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WAR  REMINISCENCES, 

"  CARLETON  " 


COLLECTS!)  FROM  THK  SKKIE3  WRITTEN  ESPECIALLY  FOK 

Boston   Journal. 


ILLUSTRATED    BY    J.    S.    BARROWS. 


PUBLISHED  BY 

THE  JOURNAL  NEWSPAPER  COMPANY, 

BOSTON,  1898. 


Copyrighted,  1898. 

BT  THI  JOURNAL  NEWSPAPER  COMPACT. 
BOSTON, 


INTRODUCTION 


On  the  19th  of  November,  1892,  the  Boston  Journal  began  a  series  of  war  remi- 
niscences by  Carleton,  the  well-known  war  correspondent  of  the  paper  in  the  days  of  the 
Rebellion,  and  by  the  veteran  soldiers  of  New  England  themselves.  The  desire  of  the 
paper  has  been  to  preserve  those  stories  of  individual  heroism  and  adventure  which  have 
never  been  compiled  for  the  formal  histories,  and  to  give  to  the  generation  grown  up  since 
the  war  a  better  idea  of  the  personal  sacrifices  and  brave  deeds  of  our  boys  in  blue  than 
they  could  obtain  from  tht  war  books,  which  deal  so  largely  with  general  events  and  with 
general  officers. 

The  name  which  the  Journal  has  always  held  as  a  stanch  friend  of  the  soldiers  led  at 
once  to  the  expectation  of  a  camp  fire  gathering  which  should  be  unique  in  size  and  inter- 
esting in  character,  and  the  expectation  has  been  more  than  realized.  Not  only  have  hun- 
dreds of  New  England  veterans,  privates,  captains,  colonels  and  generals  contributed  their 
stories  of  experiences  to  swell  the  history,  but  the  popular  voice  of  appreciation  greeting 
the  work  tells  of  its  attractiveness. 

It  does  not  seem  right  that  these  valuable  personal  records  of  the  work  of  our  New 
England  soldiers  should  pass  away  without  permanent  publication,  and  the  Journal,  there- 
fore, has  prepared  from  the  sketches  already  published  a  volume,  of  the  leading  articles, 
with  a  number  of  the  supplementary  articles,  and  Illustrated  them  with  the  pictures  used 
in  the  Journal  stories.  These  pictures  are  of  particular  value,  as  many  of  them  can  be 
found  in  no  other  place,  the  Journal  having  had  them  made  especially  for  the  reminiscences 
from  war-time  photographs  loaned  by  the  possessors. 

Taken  in  connection  with  the  other  war  stories  which  continue  to  appear  daily  in  the 
Journal  (and  which  will  run  for  months  to  come),  this  collection  will  prove  of  unique  value 
to  historians  and  of  great  interest  to  every  patriotic  man,  woman  and  youth  of  N*w  Eng- 
land. As  illustrating  the  especial  value  of  the  work,  it  may  be  stated  that  in  this  volume 
is  lor  the  first  time  explained  the  real  reason  for  the  supposed  unaccountable  blunder  at  Ball's 
Bluff.  The  story  of  the  much-discussed  capture  of  Gen.  Roger  A.  Pryor  on  the  picket  line 
is  also  t«>M  by  an  eye-witness,  and  this  article  caused  the  Southern  papers  to  comment  on 
its  importance  as  relieving  Gen.  Pryor  from  Southern  suspicion  regarding  his  loyalty  to  the 
Confederates.  Thp  question,  "Who  was  the  youngest  officer  in  the  war ?"  is  also  estab- 
lished by  interesting  evidence  within  these  pages. 


To  the  old  soldier,  and  to  the  veteran  of  those  exciting  campaigns  of  thirty  years  ago, 
whether  by  land  or  by  sea,  in  which  they  took  so  gallant  a  part,  it  is  not  necessary  to  recount 
the  chronological  sequence  of  the  battles  of  the  War  of  the  Rebellion. 

To  those  who  have  come  into  being  since  the  cross  jack  banner  of  secession  was  furled 
for  all  time  at  Appomattox,  as  well  as  to  the  youth  of  the  rising  generation,  devoid  of 
those  memories,  who  is  to  be  thrilled  in  the  many  after  years  to  come  by  their  relating,  it 
is  of  interest  to  knuw  that  the  opening  gun  of  that  great  struggle  was  fired  upon  Fort 
Sumter,  hi  Charleston  Harbor,  in  the  early  dawn  of  the  12th  of  April,  1861 ;  that  the  flag  of 
Sumter  was  lowered  after  high  noon  of  the  next  day,  and  saluted  by  the  devoted  garrison. 


STORIES    OF    OUR    SOLDIERS. 

How  the  patriotic  impulses  of  the  loyal  North  were  stirred  by  that  insult  to  tne  nag  or 
the  Union  of  States  and  of  liberty  can  never  be  forgotten  by  boy  or  man  then  living. 

It  is  to  give  some  conception  of  the  prevalent  teeling  of  that  epoch  in  the  nation's  life 
that  the  succeeding  papers  have  been  written. 

Following  fast  upon  the  fall  of  Sumter,  came  the  departure  of  the  troops ;  the  attack  upon 
the  Massachusetts  Sixth  in  Baltimore;  the  opening  of  the  door  to  Washington  by  General 
Butler  and  the  Ei.'hth  Massachusetts  Regiment ;  the  saving  of  the  Constitution  and  death 
of  Colonel  Elmer  E.  Ellsworth. 

These  were  but  the  preliminaries  which  paled  in  utter  insignificance  beside  the  momen- 
tous events  of  the  years  that  were  to  come. 

There  were,  to  be  sure,  some  reconnoissances  in  force— by  Gen.  Butler,  to  Great  Bethel, 
where  Theodore  Winthrop  fell ;  by  Col.  Wallace,  to  Romney,  where  500  rebels  were  put  to 
flight;  to  Vienna  and  other  points,  while  in  the  West  the  gallant  Gen.  Lyon  fought  quite  a 
notable  little  battle  at  Booneville,  and  put  to  ignominious  flight  the  forces  of  the  arrogant 
Gov.  Claiborne  F.  Jackson  of  Missouri. 

But  the  war  was  looked  upon,  in  spite  of  all  this,  as  a  novel  and  romantic  ninety  days' 
picnic,  until  the  eves  of  the  North  were  rudely  opened  to  its  seriousness  by  the  first  really 
great  battle  at  Bull  Run,  Virginia,  fought  upon  Manassas  Plains  on  Sunday,  the  21st  of 
July,  1861.  Its  serio-comic  and  tragic  phases,  as  viewed  by  Carleton,  an  eye-witness  upon 
the  battlefield  itself,  are  presented  by  him  in  his  interesting  way  in  a  succeeding  paper 
within  these  covers. 

Following  Bull  Run  there  ensued  much  minor  fighting,  both  in  Virginia  and  the  West, 
with  a  general  consolidation  and  reorganization  of  the  army  But  the  most  striking  battle 
of  that  fall,  and  one  which  for  thirty  years  has  been  most  inexplicable  because  of  the  tragic 
blunder  demonstrated  and  sad  disaster  entailed,  was  that  of  Ball's  Bluff 

Its  mystery  is  now  explained  in  this  volume  by  General  John  W.  Kimball,  the  present 
State  Auditor,  and  at  the  time  Major  of  the  Fifteenth  Massachusetts  Regiment,  the  first 
battalion  to  develop  the  enemy  and  engage  his  fire  on  that  October  morning. 

The  Sherman  expedition  to  Port  Royal,  and  the  brilliant  victory  there  achieved  in 
November,  materially  relieved  the  gloom  of  the  year.  Hon.  John  C.  Linehan's  narrative, 
that  of  an  interested  participant,  presents  details  not  before  given. 

In  March,  1862,  was  fought  that  battle  which  established  the  supremacy  of  the  iron-clad, 
and  revolutionized  the  navies  of  the  world — when  Greek  met  Greek  in  Hampton  Roads. 

The  battle  of  Antietam  in  September,  '62,  marked  the  turning  back  of  the  first  Northern 
movement  of  Lee— the  cherished  idea  of  the  Confederates— and  Fredericksburg  in  Decem- 
ber, with  its  bloody  sacrifice  of  heroic  lives,  roused  the  nation  to  the  necessity  of  relegating 
the  politician  to  the  rear.  This  volume  covers  the  striking  events  of  special  interest  In 
these  earlier  years  of  the  conflict. 

The  history  of  the  war  is  yet  to  be  written.  With  the  passions  and  prejudices  of  thirty 
years  ago  forever  stilled— with  the  fraternization  of  the  blue  and  the  gray — we  are  even  now 
but  just  opening  its  pages  in  their  actual,  truthful  reality. 

Boston.  February,  1893. 


CONTENTS. 

CARLETON'S   WAR    MEMORIES,    BY  HON.  CHARLES   CARLETON    COFFIN. 

Paga 

PEN  PICTURE  OF  CARLETON  AT  HOME (By  John  Stuart  Barrows)     9 

CARLETON'S  NOTE  BOOK..  BALL'S  BLUFF 12 

THE  BATTLE  OF  BULI.  RUN is 

ANTIETAM 27 

A  CAVALRY  CHARGE 39 

THE  CROSSING  AT  FREDERICKSBURG 47 

CHATS    WITH    THE    VETERAN,    BY    CHARLES    F.    W.     ARCHER. 

CAPTAIN  MAGNITZKY 63 

SERGEANT  McGlNNIS »  67 

THE  MA.fOR  TELLS  OF  BALL'S  BLUFF ..  73 

AN  UNKNOWN  HERO  OF  THE  WAR 77 

THE  CAPTAIN'S  SIORY 79 

CHRISTMAS  IN  CAMP 89 

JOHN   W.  HUTCHINSON 96 

STORIES    OF    WAR    LIFE    BY    OFFICER    AND    PRIVATE. 

AT  FIRST  BULL  RUN Captain  Urban  A.  Woodhury— 105 

THE  SHKKMAN  EXPEDITION .Hon.  John  C.  Linehan— 111 

A  GREAT  NAVAL  BATTLE William  H.  Osborne— 123 

A  BATTLE  CRISIS  General  A.  P.  Martin— 132 

ANTIETAM Captain  John  P.  Reynolds— 139 

INTO  THE  JAWS  OF  DEATH,  FREDERICKSBURG Sergeant  W.  H.  Spiller-145 

AN  AKMY  SINGER Father  Locke— 156 

FREiJERlCKSBURG Major  E.  W.  Ev^rson— 162 

A  WAR  ANNIVERSARY George  E.  Jepson— 168 

A  NIGHT  ON  PICKET Captain  John  G.  Mudge-180 

THE  SIEGE  OF  CHARLESTON ..Colonel  ElbriHgeJ.  Copp— 185 

HERO  OF  FORT  WAGNER.  COLOR  SERGEANT  CARNEY Walter  H.  B.  Remington— 194 

IN  THE  SOUTHWEST Colonel  Dana  W.  King— 205 

DR  GALLOUPE  IN  LIBBY  PRISON ^ Surgeon  Isaac  F.  Galloupe— 214 

MAINE'S  HEROES General  Robert  McAllister— 221 

DR  GKEEN'S  NARRATIVE  OF  THE  DESERTER Surgeon  Samuel  A.  Green— 229 

A  PRISONER'S  U1ARY Lieutenant  Hannibal  A   Johnson— 235 

RED  RIVER  EXPEDITION -Surgeon  John  Homans— 245 

MARTIN'S  BATTERY  AT  GATNES'S  MILL Sergeant  J.  D.  Reed— 135 

THE  FIFTH  CORPS  A!'  GAINES'S  MILL Corporal  T.  E.  Chase— 136 

ANECDOTES  OP  GENERAL  MARTIN  Lieutenant  E.  L.  Stirling— 138 

THE  TWENTIETH  CROSSED  IN  BOATS Sergeant  J.  F.  Murphy— 155 

THE  BRAVE  TWENTY-EIGHTH  MASSACHUSETTS , Captain  Martin  Binney— 161 

A  LITTLE  CAMP  FUN Corporal  Z.  T.  Haines— 1 73 

HEROIC  MOTHER  AND  A  HEROIC  SON Captain  W.  H.  H-  Hinds=173 

GENERAL  MKAGHER'S  ADDRESS  AT  FREDEK1CKSBURG..  Corporal  P.  P.  Whitehouse— 176 

A  MOST  GALLANT  FEAT .John  G.  Crawford— 176 

THE  BURNING  RAILROAD  TRAIN .William  H.  Osborne— 177 

HOW  A  CORPORAL  TURNED  REPORTER  P.  P.   Whitehouse-178 

STORIES  OF  GENERAL  GILMORE'S  OPERATIONS Lieutenant  S.  P.  Hubbard— 192 

ANECDOTES  ABOUT  A  COLORED  VETERAN Arthur  F.  Adams— 198 

HOW  THE  SECOND  ARMY  CORPS   WAS  CALLED H.  F.  Whitcomb— 199 

A  CHRISTMAS  IN  SOUTH  CAROL'NA Hon.  John  C.  Linehan— 199 

CAPTURED  A  REBEL  GENERAL  BY  MISTAKE Sergeant Leroy  T.  Carleton— 203 

MARCHING  UNDER  DIFFICULTIES Corporal  P.  P,  Whitehouse— 203 

PATHETIC  WAR  MEMORIES E.  F.  Hodge— 204 

NONE  TOO  GOOD  FOR  <  ULONEL  KING'S  BOYS Colonel  Augustus  C.  Humlin— 213 

GENERAL  MARTIN'S  STORY  OF  THE  SWORD General  A.  P.  Martin— 225 

A  TRICK  OF  THE  REBELS ..Lieutenant  Aaron  Ring— 225 

BATTLE  OF  SAVAGE'S  STATION J.  A.  Wriaht-226 

WHY  THEY  DISLIKED  GENERAL  BUTLER Charles  B.  Walker— 227 

THE  YOUNGEST  OFFICER  IN  THE  WAR Colonel  Albert  Clarke— 228 

McELHENNY'S  COURT  MARTIAL James  L.  Sherman— 232 

A  CONFEDERATE'S  STORY Major  Lamar  Fontaine— 259 


6  STORIES    OF   OUR   SOLDIERS. 

FULL    PAGE   ILLUSTRATIONS. 

Page 

COLONEL E  D.  BAKER  AND  BALL'S  BLUFF 15 

THE  VARIED  UNIFORMS  AT  BULL  RUN 21 

WHERE  THE  TIDE  TURNED  AT  BULL  RUN 25 

THE  THIRTEENTH  MASS  ACHUSE  I  IS  CHARGING  DOWN  THE  HELL 29 

CAKLETON  ON  THE  SKi  iMISH  LINE  AND  ANTIETAM  BRIDGE 35 

THE  CHARGE  O^  THE  EIGHTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY 41 

DEATH  OF  COLONEL  GOVE  AT  GAINES'S  MILL 45 

CAPTAIN  PET  l  IT  OPENING  FIRE  ON  THE  ENEMY 49 

OUR  TROOPS  IN  THE  STREETS  OF  FREDERICKSBURG 53 

SERGEANT  PLUNKETT  AND  THE  COLORS 57 

CAPTAIN  W.  A.  McGINNIS,  SERGEANT  McGINNIS  AND  THE  AXE  BRIGADE _   69 

CHARGE  OF  THE  FORLORN  HOPE 83 

HOW  CAPTAIN  MAHONEY  ALMOST  KILLED  HIS  LIEUTENANT , 87 

CHRISTMAS  LV  WINTER  QUARTERS 93 

JOHN  W.  AND  ABBV  HUTCH1NSON 97 

CAPTAIN  U.  A.  WOODBURY  PORTRAITS ......107 

THE  CHASE  FOR  THE  FUGITIVE  ANVIL 113 

BOMBARDMENT  OF  FORT  WALK 3 R 119 

BATTLE  OF  .MONITOR  AND  MER.ilMAC .127 

GRIFFIN'S  AND   MARTIN'S  BAlTtiRlES  AT  GAiNES'S  MILL 137 

JUDGE  O.  W.  HOLMES,  JR..  AND  LIEUTENANT  O.  W.  HOLMES.  JR 142 

FREDER1CKSBURG  AND  ITS  RUINED  BRIDGE 146 

NEW  HAMPSHIRE  THIRTEENTH  CHARGING  THE  STONE  WALL 152 

FATHER  LOCKE  AND  COLONEL  JAMES  L.  BATES ..158 

FIGHT  IN  THr;  WOODS  BEFORE  FREDERICKSBURG 164. 

AMERICANS  AND  BROTHERS ..170 

THE  WOUNDED  COMPANY  WASH  BASIN 174 

DIAGRAM  OF  ASSAULT  ON  FORl'  WAGNER 188 

SERGEANT  CARNEY  ON  THE  RAMPARTS  OF  WAGNER   196 

COOKING  THE  CHRISTMAS  DINNER  200 

COLONEL  KING  WOUNDED  AT  SABINE  CROSS  ROADS 208 

LIBBVT  PRISON  IN  WAR  T.ME 216 

MAINE  BOYS  RETAKING  MARTIN'S  BATTERY 222 

RELIEVING  THE  YANKEE  LIEUTENANT  OF  HIS  SWORD 236 

TRYiNwTO  RALLY  THE  FUGITIVES 252 

PORTRAITS. 

CARLETON  IN  WAR  AND  IN  PEACE 11 

CHARLES  F.  W.  ARCHER 62 

CAPTAIN  GUSTAVE  1MAGNITZKY 65 

MAJOR  JOHN  W.  KtMBALL  AND  GENERAL  KIMBALL 75 

CAPTAIN  WILLIAM  A  H  LL  IN  WAR  AN >  IN  PEACE 81 

WILLIAM  H.  O-.BORNE  TO-DAY  AND  IN  WAR  TIME ..125 

GENERAL  AUGUSTUS  P.  MARTIN  TO-DAY  AND  IN  WAR  TIME 133 

CAPTAIN  JOHN  P.  REYNOLDS  IN  WAR  AND  IN  PEACE ..140 

CAPTA  N  .IOHN  G.  MUDGE  POR  I  RAITS      ..182 

COLON  X  E.  J.  COPP  IN  WAR  AND  IN  PEACE 186 

COLONEL  DANA  W.  KING  TO-DAY  AND  IN  WAR 206 

DR.  ISAAC  F.  GALLOUPE 214 

DR.  SAMUEL  A.  GREEN  TO-DAY  AND  IN  WAR  TIME ' 230 

LIEUiENANT  H.  A.  JOHNSON 244 

SURGEON  JOHN  HOMANS. 248 

VIGNETTES. 

FALL  INI 8 

TiiE  MARYE  HOUSE,  FREDERICKSBURG 55 

CROSSING  AT  BALL'S  BLUFF,  VIRGINIA 78 

HUTCHINSON  CREST  AND  OR  GINAL  SINGERS ..102 

HON.  .IOHN  C.  LINEHAN 122 

SAVING  THE  COLONS,  MAR  YE' S  HEIGHTS 167 

CORPORAL  REPORTER 179 

RU  NS  OF  SUvlTER 184 

SUMTER'S  BATTERED  WALL 193 

ESCAPED  FROM  CAMP  FORD 212 

DOOM  OF  THE  DESERTER. , 234 

a.r.a 


FALL    IN  ! 


Xnirty  years  ago  the  readers  ol  The  Boston 
Journal  were  enabled  to  follow  the  movements 
of  the  armies  engaged  in  the  Civil  War  by  the 
vivid  descriptions  of  rapidly- changing  events, 
written  over  the  signature  "  Carleton." 

Although  the  facilities  for  dispatching  the 
news  from  the  seat  of  war  to  The  Journal  were 
not  like  those  of  to-day,  the  letters  followed  each 
other  with  a  rapidity  that  showed  the  agility 
and  push  of  the  correspondent. 

The  man  who  so  skillfully  transferred  the 
scenes  of  battle  to  words  and  sentences,  and 
such  sentences  that  gave  the  anxious  reader  a 
perfect  pen  picture  of  the  scene,  was  Charles 
Carleton  Coffin,  who  to-day  walks  the  streets 
of  Boston  with  the  same  elastic  step  with  which 
30  years  ago  he  "followed  the  flag." 

In  his  home  on  Dartmouth  street  Mr.  Coffin  is 
to  be  found  sitting  at  his  study  table,  ready  to 
chat  about  affairs  politic,  military  or  social,  as 
the  caller  desires,  for  "Carleton"  is  as  accom- 
plished a  conversationalist  as  he  is  a  writer.  Mr. 
Coffin  is  now  on  the  eve  of  three  score  and  ten. 
am:  the  prospects  are  that  the  next  decade  will 
be  one  of  labor,  but  yet  not  sorrow— rather  one 
of  labor  of  love — for  to  him  has  been  granted  an 
especial  privilege  in  not  only  telling  the  war 
story  in  the  heat  of  conflict  to  the  men  of  the 
country  but  also  as  the  years  give  a  perspective 
to  those  stirring  scenes,  to  relate  them  again  to 
the  children  of  those  who  kept  the  home  safe 
and  the  country  free. 

The  burden  of  years  rests  on  him  light,  and 
Mr.  Coffin  may  well  claim  for  himself  to  be 
'*  seventy  years  young,"  for  though  the  hair  and 


beard  are  now  whitening,  he  reminds  one  of  the 
hills  of  his  naiive  "Granite  State,"  that  need 
just  the  color  of  the  snow-cap  to  make  them 
stand  out  against  the  blue  above.  His  eye 
is  bright,  and  as  he  sits  talking 
it  flashes  with  all  its  original  flre;  as  he  walks 
the  streets  he  seems  to  be  a  living  embodiment  of 
the  ideal  "Patriot,"  as  in  truth  he  is,  for  to  one 
who  watched  his  country  while  in  the  throes  of 
civil  war  and  has  lived  both  in  its  past  and 
present,  as  he  has.  the  impressions  of  its  import 
ance  and  worth  can  not  be  slight. 

Mr.  Coffin  was  born  to  his  work,  inheriting 
from  his  grandsires  the  blood  of  those  whc 
made  the  colonies  independent,  and  in  his  boy- 
hood he  drank  in  with  all  a  child's  eagerness 
the  stories  of  the  old  pensioners  of  '76.  showine 
at  an  early  age  that  ability  to  gather  facts  that 
marked  him  for  his  life  work — and  too,  who 
knows  how  much  of  the  spirit  he  infused  into 
"Old  Times  in  the  Colonies."  and  "Boys  of 
"76."  came  from  the  memories  of  the  fireside 
tales  he  hftard  in  his  boyhood. 

But  it  is  with  Mr.  Coffin  as  the  war  correspon- 
dent and  historical  writer  that  the  country  at 
large  is  best  acquainted,  and  the  mind's  eye 
pictures  him  as  in  those  days  on  horseback, 
field-glass  in  hand,  watching  the  lines  ol  blue 
and  gray. 

In  recalling  those  days  Mr.  Coffin  tells  how 
he  always  wore  a  long  blue  overcoat,  and  with 
his  slouch  bat  it  was  difficult  to  distinguish  him 
from  the  line  officers,  and  he  tells  with  a 
twinkle  in  his  eye  that  shows  his  appreciation 
of  the  humor  of  the  situation,  how.  presuming 


10 


STORIES    OF    OUR    SOLDIERS. 


on  nis  disguise,  when  he  was  about  to  cross  the 
lines,  the  officer  in  command  called.  "  Turn  out 
the  guard  and  salute  the  General,"  and  he  said, 
"Never  mind  the  guard,"  and  giving  the  salute 
would  ride  on  unchallenged. 

Of  all  the  war  correspondents  who  went  to 
the  front  at  the  beginning  of  the  conflict,  Mr. 
Coffin  was  the  only  one  to  remain  to  the  close. 
This  was  possible  from  his  strong  constitution 
and  careful  habits,  for  while  many  others  fell 
victims  to  the  attacks  of  disease,  or  were  killed 
in  action,  Mr.  Coffin  "was  carried  through,"  as 
he  says,  "on  coffee"  and  the  frequent  rest  days 
betook. 

Although  during  his  campaigning  he  was 
often  in  danger,  he  never  carried  side  arms,  not 
even  a  revolver,  for  be  says  he  felt  the  danger 
would  be  greater  from  his  own  weapons  than 
from  those  of  others.  On  one  occasion,  in  the 
early  part  of  the  war,  at  Blackburn's  Ford  his 
excitement  carried  him  so  far  into  the  thick  of 
the  fight  that  the  General  in  command  ordered 
him  out  and  to  the  rear,  which  experience 
proved  a  good  lesson.  At  the  battle  of 
Gettysburg,  where  the  bullets  were  passing 
thickly  about  him— not  as  in  the  case  of  Arte- 
mas  Ward—"  in  wagons  on  the  way  to  the  bat- 
tle field,"  but  in  the  rain  of  death,  he,  with 
Whitelaw  Reid,  the  Cincinnati  Gazette  corre- 
spondent, narrowly  escaped  death,  and  Mr. 
Reid  was  so  impressed  with  Mr.  Coffin's  bravery 
and  ability  as  a  news  gatherer  that  he  paid  his 
especial  compliments  in  his  letters  to  the 
Gazette. 

Although  the  most  direct  mail  route  from  the 
seat  of  war  to  Boston  was  by  way  of  Chicago. 
Mr.  Coffin  was  not  to  be  baffled,  andhis  letters 
were  sent  by  any  means  possible  that  would  in- 
sure their  safe  and  speedy  transportation  to 
The  Journal :  often  he  left  the  field  on  the  close 
of  a  battle  and  traveled  as  far  as  New 
York,  writing  as  be  went,  and  a  number  of 
times  be  even  came  the  entire  distance  to  Bos 
ton. 

An  example  of  his  omnipresence  and  rapidity 
of  movement  may  be  had  in  the  fact  that  on 
Jan.  6,  1862,  he  wrote  of  the  condition  of  affairs 
at  St.  Louis ;  on  the  8ih  of  the  same  month  be 
was  at  Rolla,  in  Missouri ;  three  days  later  he 
was  at  Cairo  with  Commodore  Foote's  gunboats, 
and  later  from  the  Commodore  he  learned  the 
tecta  of  the  taking  of  Fort  Henry,  and  knowing 
ao  other  correspondent  bad  heard  the  story  he 
at  once  started  northward  by  train,  writing  oat 
the  account  while  traveling,  and  had  the  pleas- 
ant satisfaction  in  knowing  The  Journal  was 


the  first  paper  to  publish  the  account,  which 
was  duly  copied  by  the  other  papers  of  the 
country. 

Being  his  own  master  of  action,  Mr.  Coffin 
was  unhampered  by  or'lers  from  the  office,  and 
so  was  enabled  to  follow  any  line  of  work 
he  chose,  or.  as  he  says,  "  When  1  saw  a  new 
campaign  open  I  went  for  it,"  and  he  covered 
the  country  from  the  Potomac  to  the  Missis- 
sippi. 

Not  only  as  correspondent  did  Mr.  Coffin  take 
part  in  the  campaigns,  but  many  times  he 
served  as  temporary  aid,  his  coolness  and  expe- 
rience making  him  a  valuable  addition  to  a 
staff. 

While  at  Island  No.  10  his  early  knowledge 
of  engineering  became  of  practical  value,  for  he 
assisted  Capt,  Maynadier  of  the  engineers  in 
directing  the  fire  of  the  mortar  fleet,  and  while 
watching  the  bombardment  from  the  roof  of  a 
corn  crib  the  Confederate  artillery  fire  demol- 
ished a  building  but  a  few  feet  distant;  another 
time,  at  Memphis,  he  assisted  at  the  taking  of 
the  Confederate  ship  Little  Rebel,  and  helped 
to  haul  down  the  flag. 

The  account  of  the  Battle  of  Gettysburg  from 
his  pen  was  received  as  a  most  accurate  de- 
scription of  that  great  battle,  and  those  letters 
in  The  Journal  seem  as  full  of  life  as  when 
written  so  many  years  ago. 

So  accurate  was  his  account  that  it  was  copied 
not  only  by  the  American  press,  but  even  trans- 
lated by  the  French  and  German  journals. 

Mr.  Coffin  entered  Richmond  close  on  the 
heels  of  the  evacuating  rebel  force,  and  regis- 
tered his  name  at  the  Spottsville  Hotel,  the 
first  Union  man  for  a  long  time.  He  met  Presi- 
dent Lincoln  on  his  arrival  there  and  escorted 
him  and  party  to  Gen.  Weitzel's  headquarters. 

With  the  close  of  the  war  Mr.  Coffin's  occupa- 
tion as  an  army  correspondent  ceased,  but  his 
work  as  an  author  and  chronicler  of  events  had 
but  just  begun ;  had  begun,  I  say,  for  he  had 
found  time  while  under  the  cloud  of  the  war  to 
write  three  volumes  telling  the  story  of  the 
scenes  in  which  he  was  living,  in  a  way  calcu- 
lated to  attract  juvenile  readers;  these  were 
"  Days  and  Nights  on  the  Battle  Field."  "  Fol- 
lowing the  Flag,"  and  -  Winning  His  Way." 

These  works  were  only  the  beginning,  for  he 
uas  given  to  the  young  people  of  the  country 
whom,  in  the  generous  benevolence  of  his 
mind,  be  felt  should  have  some  patriotic  lesson* 
taught  in  an  attractive  war.  "The  Story  of 


12 


STORIES   OF   OUR   SOLDIERS. 


Liberty,"  "  Old  Times  in  the  Colonies,"  "  Build- 
ing the  Nation,"  "The  Drum  Beat  of  the 
Nation."  °  Marching  to  Victory,"  "  Redeeming 
the  Republic."  "  Freedom  Triumphant,"  these 
letter  four  being  a  series  tell  ing  the  history  of  the 
war  in  a  chronological  order  from  the  fall  of 
Sumpter  to  Appomattox. 

He  has  also  found  time  to  write  a  life  of  Gar- 
field,  and  the  "Life  of  Lincoln"  has  at  this 
writing  just  appeared,  and  he  is  still  busy;  the 
results  of  his  labors  the  future  will  reveal. 

Mr.  Coffin  is  a  busy  man,  he  is  in  demand  as  a 
lecturer,  and  he  labors  daily  on  his  books,  work- 
ing steadily  each  morning  till  they  are  com- 
pleted. 


His  home  has  many  reminders  in  view  of  his 
army  life,  and  his  later  tour  around  the  world 
which  followed  his  service  as  foreisrn  war  cor- 
respondent in  1866,  and  during  the  three  years 
that  followed  in  which  he  was  engaged  in 
travel,  he  wrote  a  weekly  letter  to  The  Journal. 

Mr.  Coffin  enjoys  the  distinction  of  belonging 
to  The  Journal  family,  and  is  a  welcome  visitor 
to  the  offic  %  for  during  the  winter  ot  1860  and 
'61  he  occupied  the  position  of  night  editor, 
leaving  it  for  the  more  active  and  important 
duty  on  the  battle  fields. 

Mr.  Coffin  has  received  many  honors  at  the 
hands  of  bis  fellow  citizens,  but  no  more  ex- 
pressive tribute  can  be  paid  him  than  to  say  "he 
loves  his  country  and  countrymen." 

JOHN  STCART  BABBOW& 


CARLETON'S  NOTES  OF  BALLS  BLUFF. 


Tbe  note-books  carried  in  my  pocket  during 
•the  four  years  of  the  war  of  the  Rebellion  are 
worn  and  fhded.  No  one,  other  than  myself, 
would  comprehend  the  pencilings  made  on  the 
march,  by  the  bivouac  and  on  the  Battlefield, 
but  a  flood  of  memories  sweeps  over  me  as  I 
turn  the  time  stained  leaves.  I  see  the  serried 
ranks  of  the  mighty  army,  hear  the  deep  thun- 
der of  the  cannonade,  the  rattle  of  musketry, 
the  wild  hurrah  of  the  charge,  the  wail 
of  defeat,  the  shout  of  victory.  Once 
more  I  am  amid  the  dead  and 
dying.  Once  more  I  stand  upon  the  ruins  of 
Sumter,  where  treason  began  the  war,  and 
meditate  upon  the  power  of  a  free  people  to 
suppress  the  most  gigantic  rebellion  of  all  time. 
Again  I  walk  the  streets  of  Richmond  with 
Abraham  Lincoln  and  behold  the  city  a  sea 
of  flame. 

Nearly  a  third  of  a  century  has  passed  since 
the  outbreak  of  the  rebellion.  A  generation 
has  come  upon  the  stage  to  whom  the  struggle 
for  the  maintenance  of  the  government  of  the 
people  is  ancient  history.  Many  thousands  who 
inarched  to  the  music  of  the  fife  and  drum 
have  passed  on  to  the  larger  life.  K  early 
all  the  chief  actors  in  the  great  drama 
have  departed,  but  there  are  still  many 
thousand  veterans  remaining  who  delight 
to  recall  the  scenes  and  incidents 
of  the  war,  who  perchance  will 
welcome  the  series  of  letters  which  I  am  about 
to  write.  To  many  whose  memories  do  not  go 
back  to  the  war,  the  letters.  I  trust,  will  give 
some  insight  into  the  greatness  of  the  struggle, 
heroism  and  patriotism  of  those  who  periled 


and  who  gave  their  lives  that  the  Government 
of  the  people  might  not  perish. 

During  the  war  it  was  my  duty  to  record  pass- 
ing events  without  comment  upon  the  action 
or  inaction  ot  those  in  command  of  the  armies. 
I  had  no  moral  right  at  that  time  to  praise  or 
blame,  but  now  as  a  historian  it  is  my  privilege 
to  express  my  own  opinions  upon  the  conduct  of 
the  war,  and  to  make  observations  upon  men 
and  events.  I  shall  endeavor  to  treat  every  sub- 
ject deliberately,  and  without  partisan  preju- 
dice. 

Thirty-one  years  have  passed  since  the  disas- 
ter to  the  Union  troops  at  Ball's  Bluff  on  the 
banks  of  the  Potomac.  After  Bull  Run  it  was 
the  most  prominent  military  event  of  the  first 
year  of  the  war.  I  recall  a  sweet,  calm  and  rest- 
ful autumnal  day.  I  was  in  Washington  and 
knew  that  General  McClellan  had  planned  a 
reconnoissance  by  a  portion  of  the  troops  at 
Poolsville  across  the  Potomac  in  the 
vicinity  of  Leesburg.  Just  what  he  in- 
tended to  accomplish  by  the  movement 
never  has  been  very  clearly  or  satisfac- 
torily stated.  The  force  selected  was  wholly 
inadequate  to  hold  any  position  that  might  be 
gained  on  the  Virginia  side.  So  far  as  now  can 
be  seen  nothing  was  to  be  gained  by  such  a 
movement.  During  the  afternoon  I  visited 
Gen.  McClellan's  headquarters,  which  were  in 
a  large  brick  building,  one  of  the  largest  and 
best  mansions  in  Washington.  I  could  obtain 
no  information.  While  waiting  for  an  inter- 
view with  McClellan.  President  Lincoln  en- 
tered the  room.  I  had  made  his  acquaintance 


CARLETON'S  NOTES  OF  BALL'S  BLUFF. 


13 


in  his  Springfield  home  immediately  after  his 
nomination  in  1860.  He  gave  me  a  cordial 
greeting:  A  staff  officer  announced  the  pres- 
ence of  the  President  to  McClellan.  I  could 
hear  the  click  of  the  telegraph  within.  Several 
minutes  passed  before  the  officer  returned  and 
invited  the  President  to  enter  the  inner  room. 
While  waiting  Mr.  Lincoln  rested  his  head  upon 
his  hand  and  seemed  lost  in  thought.  There 
•were  lines  of  trouble  on  his  sunken  cheeks. 
He  did  not  remain  long  with  McClel- 
lan, out  came  out  and  with  long  strides 
moved  toward  the  door.  His  head  was 
bowed,  and  his  hands  were  clasped  upon  his 
heart.  He  walked  with  tottering  gait,  reeling 
as  if  beneath  a  staggering  blow.  He  stumbled 
upon  the  outer  steps,  but  did  not  fall.  He 
passed  down  the  street  towards  the  White 
House,  carrying  not  only  the  burden  of  the  na- 
tion upon  his  heart,  but  a  heavy  load  of  pri- 
vate grief,  which  with  swiftness  of  a  lightning 
flash  had  been  hurled  upon  him. 

"What  is  it?"  I  asked  of  Gen.  Mar  cv.  Chief 
of  Staff. 

"There  has  been  a  disaster  at  Ball's  Bluff;  we 
have  lost  a  large  number  of  men,  possioly  fifteen 
hundred,  and  CoL  Baker  is  killed." 

My  acquaintance  with  Edward  Dickenson 
Baker  was  that  of  a  newspaper  correspondent 
with  public  men.  The  present  generation 
knows  him  only  as  a  man.  but  he  was  a  very 
remarkable  man,  one  of  the  many  remarkable 
men  of  the  century.  He  was  of  English 
birth,  born  in  London  1811.  being  two  years 
younger  than  President  Lincoln.  His  father 
emigrated  to  Philadelphia  in  1815.  Early  in 
his  boyhood  young  Baker  was  set  to  work  in  a 
woolen  manufactory.  He  had  a  limited  educa- 
tion in  the  public  school.  In  1825  the 
family  moved  to  Illinois.  The  boy  determined 
to  make  the  most  of  himself,  and  studied  law. 
At  the  age  of  24  he  opened  an  office  at  Spring- 
field. When  Abraham  Lincoln  moved  from 
New  Salem  to  Springfield  to  become  a  lawyer, 
with  all  his  worldly  effects  in  his  saddle  bags, 
and  became  a  lodger  in  a  loft  over  Joshua  P. 
Speed's  store,  he  found  Baker  quite  well 
established  in  the  profession.  A  warm 
intimacy  sprang  up  between  them. 
They  belonged  to  the  same  political 
partv,  both  being  ardent  Whigs.  Both  were 
elected  to  the  Legislature  in  1837.  It  was  a 
legislative  body  containing  men  whose  names 
are  inseparably  connected  with  the  history  of 
our  country.  Among  others  were  Stephen  A, 
Douglas,  John  J.  ilardin,  the  latter  prominent 


In  the  war  with  Mexico,  James  Shields.  Major 
General  during  the  war  of  the  Rebellion,  of 
whom  I  may  have  something  to  say  in  another 
letter,  William  A.  Richardson,  subsequently 
member  of  Congress,  John  A  McClernand,  Major 
General  during  the  war,  and  Abraham 
Lincoln.  In  the  Harrison  campaign  of  1340 
Baker  and  Lincoln  stumped  the  State  together. 
Baker  was  the  most  popular  orator  of  the  two, 
and  aroused  wild  enthusiasm  by  his  impas- 
sioned eloquence.  Lincoln  amused  people  by 
his  stories,  and  carried  conviction  by  his  argu- 
ment Baker  was  speaking  one  evening  in  the 
Court  House  at  Springfield  to  a  turbulent  crowd 
composed  largely  of  Democrats.  His  argument 
was  aggressive  and  forcible,  and  greatly 
angered  them.  "Down  with  him!  Put  him 
out!"  they  cried.  A  gang  of  roughs  rushed 
upon  the  platform,  immediately  over  which 
was  a  scuttle  in  the  ceiling  opening  to  a  cham- 
ber above,  where  Lincoln  was  lying  at  full 
length  upon  the  floor  listening  to  Baker.  The 
next  moment  the  audience  saw  a  pair  of  long 
legs  dangling  from  the  scuttle,  then  the  whole 
form  of  Lincoln  as  he  let  himself  down  upon 
the  platform.  He  seized  the  stone  water 
pitcher  standing  on  the  table,  lifted  it  above  his 
head,  and  shouted:  "I  will  smash  it  over  the 
head  of  the  first  man  who  lays  his  hands  on 
Baker!  Free  speech,  gentlemen.  Let  us  not 
disgrace  the  age  and  the  country  in  which 
we  live.  Baker  has  a  right  to  speak  and  I  am 
here  to  protect  him.  No  man  shall  take  him 
from  this  stand  if  I  can  prevent  it"  As  once 
upon  the  Gallilean  Lake  the  storm  was  hushed 
by  One  who  said  "Peace,  be  still."  so  was  it 
there  by  the  action  of  Abraham  Lincoln,  who 
was  liked  and  respected  by  all  parties,  and 
Baker  proceeded  without  further  interruption. 

When  the  war  with  Mexico  began  Baker 
raised  a  regiment  in  Illinois,  was  commissioned 
Colonel,  and  joined  the  forces  under  Gen.  Scott 
at  Matamoras.  He  was  made  bearer  of  dis- 
patches to  Washington.  Being  a  member  of  the 
House,  he  made  a  forcible  speech  in  Congress 
advocating  the  prosecution  of  the  war,  then  re- 
signed his  seat.  He  again  joined  the  army  and 
was  at  the  siege  of  Vera  Cruz.  At  Cerro  Gordo, 
when  Gen.  Shields,  commanding  the  brigade, 
was  wounded.  Baker  became  Commander,  and 
rendered  distinguished  service  to  the  close 
of  the  war.  In  1852  he  emigrated  to  California 
and  in  1859  to  Oregon,  where  he  was  elected  to 
the  United  States  Senate.  Upon  the  outbreak 
of  the  war  he  went  to  Philadelphia,  and  by  bis 
patriotism  and  eloquence  raised  a  regiment  con- 


STORIES    OF    CH'R    SOLDIERS. 


taming  140O  men,  which,  te  the  language  ot 
William  D.  Kelley,  were  the  "Flower  of  Phila- 
delphia." It  was  known  as  the  California  regi- 
ment President  Lincoln  tendered  a  commis- 
sion as  Brigadier  General  to  Baker,  which  was 
respectfully  declined  He  preferred  to  remain 
with  the  men  whom  he  had  persuaded  to  enlist 
He  still  retained  his  seat  as  Senator.  I  recall 
him  as  I  saw  him  in  the  Senate  and  also  at  the 
head  of  his  regiment,  tall  and  of  commanding 
presence,  the  picture  of  robust  health,  affable. 
courteous,  dignified,  restless  at  times,  in  the 
Senate  chamber  frequently  walking  in  rear  of 
the  chairs,  seemingly  lost  in  thought,  yet  doubt- 
less hearing  every  word  spoken.  It  was  on 
August  1.  1861,  that  he  entered 
the  Senate  wearing  his  uniform.  John  C. 
Breckinridge,  Vice  President  under  Buchanan, 
Senator  from  Kentucky,  was  speaking  upon  the 
hill  for  the  suppression  of  the  rebellion.  He 
was  bitterly  denouncing  the  war  and  opposing 
Its  prosecution.  He  said:  "War  is  separation; 
it  is  disunion,  eternal  disunion.  We  have  sep- 
aration now ;  it  will  be  worse  as  the  war  goes 
on.  In  addition  to  the  moans  and  cries  of 
widows  and  oruhans  you  will  hear  the  cries  of 
distress  for  the  wants  and  comforts  of  life.  The 
Pacific  slope  is  now  devoted,  doubtless,  to  the 
Union:  but  if  you  increase  the  burdens 
of  taxation,  will  they  remain?  You  already  see 
New  England  and  the  great  Northwest  in  a 
measure  divided.  Fight  twelve  months  and 
yon  will  have  three  confederacies,  fight  a  little 
longer  and  you  will  have  four." 

Colonel  Baker  arose.  "Mr.  President,"  he 
said,  "what  words  are  these?  What  their 
meaning?  Are  they  not  words  of  brilliant, 
polished  treason?  What  would  nave  been 
thought  in  another  capital,  another  republic, 
in  a  yet  more  martial  age,  if  a  Senator  as 
grave— not  more  eloquent  or  dignified  than  the 
Senator  from  Kentucky,  yet  with  the  Roman 
purple  flowing  over  his  shoulders — had  risen  in 
his  place,  surrounded  by  all  the  emblems  of 
Roman  glory,  and  declared  that  tne  cause  of 
advancing  Hannibal  was  just,  and  that  Car- 
thage ought  to  be  dealt  with  in  terms  of  peace? 
What  would  have  been  thought  if,  after  the 
battle  of  Cannae,  a  Senator  had  then  risen  in 
his  place  and  denounced  every  levy  of  the 
Roman  people,  every  expenditure  of  its  treasure, 
and  every  appeal  to  the  old  recollections 
an<l  old  glories?"  A  voice  was  heard— that  of 
William  Pitt  Fessenden  of  Maine: 

**  He  would  have  been  hurled  from  the  Tar- 
peian  Rock." 

"Does  not  the  Senator  from  Kentucky  know." 


continued  Baker.  "  that  every  word  ho  has  ot- 
tered will  be  an  inspiration  to  every  Confeder- 
ate ear?  For  myself,  I  have  no  such  words  to 
utter.  For  me,  amid  temporary  defeat,  disaster 
and  disgrace,  it  seems  that  my  duty  calls  me 
to  utter  another  word,  a  word  for  bold,  sudden, 
forward,  determined  war,  according  to  the  laws 
of  war,  advancing  with  all  the  past  glories  of 
the  Republic  urging  us  on." 

Col.  Baker  had  obeyed  tne  orders  of  his  su- 
perior officer  in  an  ill-planned  movement  to 
Ball's  Biuff .  A  few  hours  after  witnessing  the 
agony  of  President  Lincoln  I  stood  beside  the 
body  of  the  fallen  commander,  and  beheld  his 
face  peaceful  in  death,  and  recalled  the  linea 
he  had  composed  "  To  a  Wave." 

"  Dost  thon  seek  a  star  with  thy  swelling  crest 

0  wave,  that  leavest  thy  mother's  breast? 
Dost  thou  leap  from  the  prisoned  depths  below 
In  scorn  of  their  calm  and  constant  flow? 

Or  art  thou  seeking  some  distant  land. 
To  die  In  murmurs  upon  the  strand? 
"  I  too  am  a  ware  on  the  storm  v  sea; 

1  too  am  a  wanderer,  driven  like  thee; 
I  too  am  seeking  a  distant  land, 

To  be  lost  and  gone  ere  1  reach  the  strand; 
For  the  land  I  seek  is  a  waveloss  shore, 
And  those  who  once  reach  It  shall  wander  no  more." 
CoL  Baker  was  not  only  a  poet,  but  an  excel- 
lent musician,  and  often  gave  pleasure  to  com- 
panies of  ladies  and  gentlemen  in  a  drawing 
room  by  nis  rendering  of  souzs.  His  reading 
was  extensive,  and  he  could  speak  several  lan- 
guages fluently.  Abraham  Lincoln  had  no 
warmer  supporter,  and  the  Republic  no  more 
loyal  son  than  he.  Shall  we  wonder  that  the 
blow  struck  home  to  the  heart  of  the  President? 
As  I  rode  along  the  bank  of  he  Potomac  on 
my  way  to  Poolsville  I  saw  the  bodies  floating 
in  the  stream  of  those  that  were  killed  at  Ball's 
Bluff,  or  who  were  drowned  while  attempting 
to  gain  the  Maryland  shore.  The  ill  starred 
affair  was  over  when  I  arrived.  Col.  Charles 
Devens  with  a  portion  of  the  Fifteenth  Massa- 
chusetts Regiment  had  been  ordered  to  cross 
the  Potomac  on  a  preliminary  reconnoissance. 
The  only  means  of  transportation  provided  were 
an  old  scow  and  canal  boat.  The  sun  was  rising 
when  he  reached  the  Virginia  shore  and  drove 
in  the  Confederate  pickets.  During  the 
forenoon  the  remainder  of  his  own  regiment, 
and  portions  of  the  Twentieth  Massachusetts. 
a  portion  of  Col.  Baker's  regiment,  and  of  the 
Tammany  regiment  of  New  York,  and  two 
howitzers  were  ferried  across  the  river,  in  all, 
between  two  and  three  thousand  men.  They 
had  been  ordered  thither  by  Gen.  Stone.  Just 
what  they  were  there  for  no  one  knew  except 
to  reconnoitre.  At  mid  afternoon  they  were 


COLONEL    K.    I).    HAKER    AND    BALL'S    BLUFF. 


15 


CARLETON'S  NOTES  OF  BALL'S  BLUFF. 


17 


assailed  by  more  than  twice  their  number  of 
Confederates  under  Gen,  Evans.  For  an 
hour  the  firing  was  at  long  range, 
like  the  pattering  of  rain  drops  before 
the  full  burst  of  a  full  storm.  The  Massachu- 
setts Fifteenth  was  most  exposed  and  suffered 
severely.  But  tliere  was  no  flinching.  The 
steadiness  of  the  troops  won  the  admiration  of 
Col.  Baker,  who  said:  "If  I  had  two  more 'such 
regiments  I  would  cut  my  way  to  Leesburg." 
He  rode  a  white  house  and  was  a  conspicuous 
object.  Suddenly  he  reeled  from  his  saddle, 
pierced  with  four  balls,  either  of  which  would 
have  been  fatal,  and  died  instantly.  His  body 
was  borne  to  the  Maryland  shore.  The  com- 
mand devolved  on  Col.  Cogswell  of  the  New 
York  regiment,  who  ordered  a  retreat. 

• 

It  is  at  this  moment  that  the  coolness  and 
bravery  of  Charles  Devens  becomes  conspicu- 
ous: "  I  do  not  think  it  best  to  retreat.  Do  you 
issue  it  as  an  order?"  he  said.  "  I  do,"  Cogswell 
replied.  "  I  would  like  to  have  you  reoeat  your 
order  in  the  presence  of  others,"  said  Devens. 
Col.  Cogswell  repeated  it,  and  the  retreat  was 
made  with  great  steadiness  to  the  river's  bank. 
There  are  nearly  two  thousand  men,  with  only 
the  canal  boat  and  scow  as  their  means 
of  escape!  The  exultant  enemy  is  press- 
inn  nearer.  "  Every  man  must  take  care 


of  himself."  is  the  shout  of  Devens  as  he 
throws  his  sword  into  the  Potomac,  strips  off  his 
coat  and  plunges  into  the  water.  No  language 
can  adequately  set  forth  the  horror  of  the  scene. 
Down  to  the  top  of  the  bluff  rush  the  enemy, 
pouring  volley  after  volley  upon  the  helpless 
crowd  beneath,  many  standing  irresolutely 
upon  the  bank  unable  to  swim,  lifting  their 
hands  imploringly  and  crying  for  quarter. 
Others  are  struggling  in  the  swift  running 
stream,  the  Confederates  deliberately  taking 
aim  at  them.  It  is  not  possible  for  us  after  the 
lapse  of  nearly  a  third  of  a  century,  and  after  a 
cooling  of  passion,  to  comprehend  the  bitterness 
and  hate  of  the  Confederates  in  1861.  It  was  a 
hate  born  of  slavery,  brutal  and  barbarous. 

The  body  of  Col.  Baker  was  tenderly  cared  for 
by  George  A,  Brackett  of  Minneapolis,  who  hap- 
pened to  be  at  Poolsville.  Many  of  those  who 
recently  attended  the  Republican  National  Con- 
vention in  that  city  will  remember  him  as  a 
most  efficient  manager  in  charge  of  the  arrange- 
ments. The  corpse  was  taken  to  Washington, 
and  in  the  capital  fitting  tribute  was  paid  to  the 
memory  of  the  fallen  commander.  He  had 
been  an  earnest  advocate  for  the  building  of  the 
telegraph  line  to  San  Francisco.  There  is  pathos 
in  the  thought  that  the  first  message  transmitted 
over  the  line  was  the  announcement  of  bis 
death.  The  country  had  lost  a  true  patriot  and 
Abraham  Lincoln  a  life-long:  friend. 


THE  BATTLE  OF  BULL  RUN. 


Of  movements  of  armies  d urine  the  four  years 
erf  the  Rebel  lion  that  to  Bull  Run.  July,  1861, 
was  the  most  piciuresque — with  bands  playing. 
colors  flying,  and  every  soldier  keeping  step  to 
the  music  as  if  on  dress  parade.  There  was  a 
great  variety  of  uniforms.  Some  of  the  regi- 
ments were  in  blue,  others  in  eray.  some 
trimmed  with  red,  others  white,  green 
or  yellow.  There  were  hat?  and  caps; 
some  with  pompons,  others  with  plumes. 
One  regiment  from  Pennsylvania,  commandeu 
by  Colonel  Cameron,  were  uniformed  as  High- 
landers with  the  kilt  skirt,  a  section  of  the  leg 
exposed.  Another  regiment  was  uniformed  as 
zouaves  with  baggy  blue  trousers,  preposterous 
jackets,  turbans  of  red.  white  and  blue,  or  scar- 
let fezzes.  I  recall  officers  who  were  radiant 
with  bright,  new  uniforms.  The  trousers  of 
some  were  trimmed  with  red  stripes,  others 
with  yellow.  Some  wore  fatigue  caps,  others 
slouched  hats.  There  was  a  mixture  of  the 
Orient  and  Occident  It  was  more  like  a  grand 
masquerade  than  anything  I  had  ever  scene. 

We  must  not  forget  that  some  of  the  regi- 
ments were  State  troops,  wearing  their  ordi- 
nary uniforms.  Some  of  the  new  regiments, 
enlisted  for  three  years,  were  uniformed  in 
gray,  others  in  blue.  The  terms  of  some  of 
the  three  months  men  were  about  expiring,  and 
many  of  the  soldiers  were  glad  that  the  army 
was  on  the  march ;  they  did  not  want  to  go 
home  until  they  had  taken  part  in  a  battle. 
There  was  one  officer  in  the  moving  column, 
William  T.  Sherman,  who  comprehended  bstter 
than  anybody  else  the  situation  of  affairs.  He 
had  just  returned  North  from  Louisiana,  where 
he  had  been  an  instructor  in  the  State  Military 
Institute  He  was  in  command  of  a  brigade.  I 
made  his  acquaintance  a  few  days  previous 


to  the  movement.  My  headquarters  for  several 
days  before  the  advance  were  with  Gen.  Tyler's- 
division,  stationed  at  Fall's  Church,  the  most 
advanced  position  held  by  the  Union  troops.  I 
shared  the  general  enthusiasm  and  believed 
that  the  Union  troops,  having  right  on  their 
side,  would  move  triumphantly  on  to  Rich- 
mond. It  is  laughable  now.  but  we  were  in 
earnest  then.  The  cry  throughout  the  North 
was  "  On  to  Richmond."  We  were  going  there; 
there  was  no  doubt  a.  out  it.  Beauregard  anil 
his  crowd  of  braggarts,  who  were  boasting  that 
one  Southerner  was  equal  to  five  Yankees, 
would  be  brushed  away  and  the  army  would 
move  triumphantly  on  the  rebel  capital  1  It  was 
the  universal  expectation. 

The  neaesrt  Confederates  were  at  Fairfax 
Court  House,  but  the  main  army  under  I<e;iure- 
«ard  was  in  the  vicinity  of  Manas^as,  It  was 
supposed  that  he  would  make  Bull  Run  the  line 
of  defence.  There  was  another  Confederate 
army  under  Johnston  at  Winchester  in  the 
Shenandoah,  and  a  Union  army  under  Patter- 
son at  Harper's  Ferry.  The  danger  that  con- 
fronted McDowell,  commanding  the  Union 
trooos.  was  the  possible  sudden  transfer  of 
Johnston's  army  to  Manassas.  Patterson  was 
ordered  to  prevent  such  a  movement  Gen. 
Scott,  who  planned  the  campaign,  seemed  to 
forget  that  Johnston  could  make  the  movement 
by  rail,  whereas  Patterson  would  be  compelled 
to  march. 

At  3  o'clock  on  the  afternoon  of  a  beautiful 
July  day  the  bugle  sounde  1  and  Tyler's  division 
filed  into  the  Leesburg  turnpike,  with  several 
correspondents,  including  the  artist  of  Hirper*s 
Weekly  and  the  correspondent  of  the  Boston 
Journal  in  advance.  It  is  very  laughable  now. 
but  we  were  earnest  and  determined  then.  and. 


BATTLE    OF    BULL    RUN. 


ire  were  there  to  see  what  would  happen.  At 
times  the  bands  played,  and  then  a  regiment 
sang— not  "John  Browu"— it  was  too  early  for 
that,  but  the  "Star-spangled  Banner,"  or  some 
doggerel  to  "  Yankee  Doodle."  The  first  bivouac 
was  at  Vienna.  1  was  fortunate  in  obtaining 
permission  to  spread  my  blanket  on  the  floor  of 
a  little  building,  used  by  an  old  resident,  who 
was  a  sort  of  a  botanical  physician,  arid  the 
room  was  iragrant  with  catnip  and  peppermint. 
There  was  a  laughable  scene  in  the  morning 
when  the  soldiers  overturned  several  bee  hives 
ana  helped  themselves  to  honey  and  the  bees 
took  tiieir  revenge  by  putting  men  and  horses 
to  flight 

At  an  early  hour  the  column  was  atcaiu  on  the 
march  with  the  correspondents  once  more  in 
the  advance.  As  we  emerged  from  a  piece  of 
woods,  we  came  in  view  of  Fairfax  Court  House 
and  discovered  several  Confederate  cavalrymen 
in  the  iieid.  Two  companies  of  Connecticut 
troops  under  Captain  Joseph  Hawley,  since 
Governor  and  now  Senator,  were  acting  as 
skirmishers.  Captain  Hawley,  taking  a  musket 
from  one  of  his  soldiers,  aimed  at  the  cavalry- 
men and  tired.  It  was  the  first  shot  of  the  cam- 
paign. All  except  one  of  the  Confederates  rode 
rapidly  away.  The  one  who  did  not  flee,  waited 
for  our  advance,  and  gave  nimse if  up  as  pris- 
oner. He  lived  in  the  neighbornood  and  1  ap- 
prehend that  be  cared  more  for  his  young  wife 
than  he  di  i  for  the  Confederacy  at  that  moment 
A  little  farther  on  a  larger  body  of  Coniedt-rates 
was  discovered.  Two  pieces  of  Varian's  battery 
came  into  position  and  threw  shells  toward 
them,  and  they  suddenly  disappeared.  Again 
the  column  moved  on;  we  were  getting  on 
toward  Richmond  swimmingly.  At  German- 
town  we  discovered  two  Confederate  cannon 
and  a  line  of  soldiers  behind  a  line  of  breast- 
works, but  the  cannon  quickly  disappeared  in 
the  direction  of  Centreville.  Their  retreat  was 
so  precipitate  that  a  large  amount  of  baggage 
was  left  behind.  I  picked  up  a  carpet  bag  con- 
taining clothing,  the  property  ot  a  South  Caro- 
linian. The  morning  of  the  third  day  brought 
the  army  to  Centreville.  which  was  reached  by 
the  correspondents  in  advance  of  the  troops.  At 
the  only  tavern,  a  white  woman  waved  the 
Stars  and  Stripes,  as  Mr.  Wand,  with  sketch 
book,  and  the  correspondent  of  the  Journal 
stepped  on  the  piazza.  Peeping  from  the  doors 
and  windows  of  several  cabins  were  scores  of 
grinning  negroes. 

It  was  a  litile  past  11  o'clock  when  Richard- 
son's brigade,  in  which  was  the  Massachusetts 
First  Regiment,  under  Col.  Cowdin,  turned 
southward  and  moved  toward  Blackburn's  Ford. 
Passing  through  wools,  the  brigade  came  into 
a  field  looking  down  a  gentle  slope.  The 
skirmishers  soon  encountered  the  Con  federates. 
There  was  a  rattling  of  musketry,  and  then  Gen. 
Tyler  directed  Captain  Avers  to  wheel  his  guns 
into  position  and  open  fire.  I  saw  a  puff  of 
smoke  and  then  heard  a  strange  noise  in  trie 
air.  The  next  moment  there  was  an  explosion 
a  few  rods  distant  from  where  I  was  stand- 
ing. The  shell  had  burst  among  a  company 
of  dragoons,  wounding  two  soldiers.  Three 


companies  of  the  Massachusetts  First;  with  two 
cannon,  were  sent  down  the  slope.  Gen.  Tyler 
tooK  bis  position  under  some  peach  trees  near  a 
deserted  house.  Wishing  to  see  what  was  going 
on,  I  followed  the  advancing  line,  when  sud- 
denly the  air  was  filled  with  bullets.  The  troops 
had  come  in  contact  with  Longstreet's  Con- 
federate brigade,  holding  Blackburn's  Ford. 
Louder,  wilder  and  more  startling  than  the 
volley  which  they  had  tired  was  the  re<  el  yell. 
A  thousand  Confederates  were  howling  like 
wolves.  I  heard  similar  yells  many  times  after- 
ward, but  never  was  the  howl  so  startling. 
There  are  times  when  discretion  is  better  than 
boldness,  and  as  the  bullets  were  striking  the 
ground  in  the  immediate  vicinity,  I  made  a. 
quick  retreat  to  Gen.  Tyler's  position  to  receive  a 
reprimand.  "You  have  no  business  down 
there."  he  said  sternly.  I  agreed  with  him, 
and,  finding  a  position  somewhat  sheltered  in 
the  road,  could  see  all  that  took  plac  t  without 
being  very  much  exposed.  The  Ambulance 
Corps  was  called  for  to  bring* back  the  wounded. 
1  recall  the  first  wounded  man  brought  back  on 
a  stretcher — his  thigh  torn  to  pieces  by  a  can- 
non shot.  I  have  seen  many  thousand  wounded 
men  since  there,  but  never  a  wound  Which  so- 
startled  me.  The  reflection  came  that  this  was 
war.  All  its  glamour  was  gone  in  an  instant. 
The  strain  upon  my  nerves  was  a  little  relieve  i 
at  seeing  Capt.  Brackett,  commanding  the  cav- 
alry, an  old  army  officer,  who  had  served  in 
Mexico,  deliberately  fill  his  pipe,  strike  a  match 
and  begin  smoking,  unmindful  of  the  shells 
which  were  flying  through  the  air. 

1  recall  a  laughable  incident.  When  the  troops 
were  recalled  from  their  position  they  came 
back  upon  the  run.  A  regiment  from  New 
York,  composed  in  part  of  Irishmen,  was  sta- 
tioned in  the  woo. is  as  a  second  line.  The  sol- 
diers could  hear  the  tramping  of  feet  and  the 
noise  and  confusion  of  the  retreat,  uut  did  not 
know  what  was  taking  place.  Somebo  ly  said 
that  the  rebels  were  advancing  to  attack  them. 
It  was  very  amusing  to  see  the  men  throw  down, 
their  guns,  strip  off  their  co.its,  spit  on  their 
hands,  as  if  ready  to  have  a  hand-to-hand 
shindy.  They  seized  their  muskets  and  stood 
with  fixed  bayonets  to  receive  the  enemy. 

Gen.  Tyler  had  exceeded  his  instructions.  He 
had  been  ordered  to  reconnoitre  the  ground ;  he 
might  have  ascertained  the  position  of  the  Con- 
federates by  sen  .ing  out  a  few  skirmishers. 
Instead  of  that  he  had  brought  on  quite  an  en- 
gagement, and  had  suffered  considerable  loss. 
1  went  along  the  lines  of  the  Massachusetts- 
First  and  talked  with  the  men.  One  said:  "My 
comrade,  who  was  shot,  handed  me  his  musket, 
saying,  '  it  is  all  right,  bill,'  and  immediately 
expired."  One  soldier  had  three  balls  pass 
through  his  coat,  but  escaped  unharmed. 

Possibly  the  movement  to  Blackburn's  Ford 
was,  after  all.  of  benefit;  the  Coniederates 
thought  that  it  was  to  be  McDowell's  point  of 
attack  and  made  their  preparations  accord- 
ingly. The  reoulse  served  to  dissipate  in  some 
degree  the  confidence  manifest  at  the  beginning 
of  the  movement.  We  began  to  see  that  we 
were  not  going  straight  on  to  Richmond.  "We 


-20 


STORIES    OF    OUR    SOLDIERS. 


shall  see  in  my  next  communication  that  we 
had  reason  to  change  our  opinion. 

The  army  under  McDowell  was  at  Centre- 
ville, where  it  had  been  resting  two  days — a 
fatal  delay,  for  the  Confederate  army  under 
Johnston  was  being  whirled  from  Winchester 
to  Manassas  by  rail.  Paiterson  had  intended  to 
attack  Johnston,  but  was  persuaded  by  his 
Chief  of  staff.  Fitz  John  Porter,  not  to  do  so. 
Had  Porter  not  used  his  influence  as  he  did,  in 
all  probability  the  battle  of  Bull  Run  would 
have  been  far  different  from  what  it  was,  tor 
Johnston  would  not  have  transferred  his  trooops 
to  Manassas.  In  its  inception,  progress  and 
final  outcome,  it  was  one  of  the  most  dramatic 
battles  of  the  war 

Never  dawned  a  ralrer  day  than  Sunday,  July 
21,  1861.  McDowell  had  issued  his  orders 
Saturday  evening.  He  decided  to  make  a 
demonstration  at  Blackburn's  Ford  with  Rich- 
ardson's brigade,  to  send  a  portion  of  the  troops 
down  Warrentou  turnpike  to  cross  Bull  Kun  at 
Stone  Bridge  at  an  appointed  moment.  Mc- 
Dowell was  to  move  with  the  rest  of  the  army — 
Hunter's  and  Ueintzelmau's  divisions,  to  Sud- 
ley's  Ford  and  turn  the  left  flank  of  the  Confed- 
erate army.  When  that  was  accomplished  the 
troops  at  Stone  Bridge  were  to  cross  Bull  Run, 
join  the  two  divisions  and  make  the  general 
assault. 

Had  we  been  in  the  Confe  lerate  lines  on  San- 
day  morning  we  should  have  seen  Beauregard 
and  Johnston  planning  to  cross  Bull  Run,  gain 
the  rear  of  McDowell,  and  cut  off  his  commu- 
nication with  Washington.  War  is  emphat- 
ically a  game  which  two  can  play  at  It  was 
good  strategy  on  the  part  of  the  Confederates, 
but  it  was  not  carried  out  because  McDowell 
was  the  first  to  move 

At  2  o'clock  in  the  morning  Tyler's  troops 
folded  their  blankets  an  I  moved  towar  1  Stone 
Bridge,  but  halted,  thereby  blocking  the  roads. 
A  mistake  had  been  mada  Hunter  and 
Heiutzelman  were  to  make  a  long  march,  and 
could  not  move  until  Tyier  was  out  of  the  way ; 
the  halt  greatly  delayed  them.  It  was  just  half- 
past  tive  9'clock  wiien  tlie  peaceful  stillness  of 
the  morning  was  broken  by  the  roar  of  a  can- 
non, tired  by  Ayer's  battery.  The  second  shot 
passed  througn  one  of  tlie  tents  at  Beauregard's 
headquarters.  There  was  a  commotion  in  the 
Confederate  lines.  Beauregar  i  did  not  know 
what  to  make  of  it,  and  messengers 
were  sent  countermanding  the  orders 
which  had  been  issued  for  a  move- 
ment against  McDowell.  A  tew  mo- 
ments later  the  Union  cannon  at  Blackburn's 
Ford  began  to  thunder.  1  hastened  toward 
Blackburn's  Ford.  Upon  reaching  the  position 
i  had  occupied  two  uays  before,  I  could  see  the 
Confederates  behind  their  breastworks.  Long- 
street's  batteries  opened  tire.  A  shell  came 
screaming  through  the  air  and  struck  the 
ground  with  a  dull  thud.  It  did  not  explode 
and  a  little  later  I  had  it  in  hand.  Men  witli 
axes  were  felling  trees  to  form  a  barricade  in 
case  the  Confederates  were  to  make  an  attack. 


Learning  that  Richardson  was  to  stand  on  tka 
defensive  I  returned  to  Centreville,  where  I 
discovered  a  battery  without  any  gunners,  and 
learned  that  the  term  for  which  the  men  had 
heen  serving  had  coxpired  that  morning  and 
they  were  on  t-S'Sr  way  to  Washington. 

There  was  a  motley  collection  ol  people  at 
Centreville.  members  of  Congress  who  had 
hire  t  hacks  at  the  Washington  livery  stables. 
citizens,  ladies,  Unionists  and  Secessionists,  all 
in  a  high  state  of  excitement,  negroes  rolling  the 
whites  of  their  eyes.  One  personage  attracted 
my  attention,  William  H.  Russell,  correspondent 
of  the  Lon  ion  Times.  He  was  taking  his  lunch 
by  the  roadside.  He  had  won  laurels  in  the 
Crimea  as  correspondent  of  the  "Thunderer"  of 
British  bluster  and  opinion,  and  had  crossed 
the  ocean  before  the  war.  He  had  visited  the 
Southern  States  and  made  the  acquaintance  of 
Jefferson  Davis  and  the  Confederate  leaders. 
He  had  just  arrived  from  Washington  in  a  glsr 
with  an  attache  of  the  British  Legation.  He  had 
also  a  saddle  horse  and  a  negro  servant.  He 
was  eating  sau  iwiches,  cold  chicken  an  i  ham, 
and  washing  it  down  with  claret  and  brandy. 
Being  a  thorough-going  Britisher,  he  was  taking 
a  good  lunch  before  doing  anything  elsa 

It  was  past  9  o'clock  when  the  head  of  Hun- 
ter's column  reached  Bull  Kun.  The  water  was 
only  ankle  deep,  and  the  men  halted  under  the 
willows  and  imttonwoods  shading  the  stream, 
to  till  their  canteens.  The  sun  was  shining: 
from  a  cloudless  sky.  it  was  nearly  noon  when 
Burnside's  brigade  reached  the  house  of  Mr. 
Mathews  on  the  road  leading  south  to 
Manassas.  The  Second  Rhode  Island  Regiment 
deuloyed  as  skirmishers.  The  men  toos  off 
their  nice  olue  overcoats  and  knapsacks  and 
left  them  by  the  house,  and  then  moved  on. 
Suddenly  there  was  a  rattling  fire  of  musketry. 
They  had  come  upon  a  brigade  of  Confederates 
commanded  by  General  Evans,  guarding  Stone 
Bridge.  Hunter  made  tlie  mistake  of  advanc- 
ing slowly ;  he  should  have  advanced  rapidly. 
Had  he  done  so.  Evans  would  have  been  swept 
back,  and  Tyler  and  Sherman  at  Stone  Bridge 
could  have  crossed  at  once.  A  battalion  under 
Col.  Wheel  came  upon  the  run  to  reinforce 
Evans,  followed  by  the  brigades  of  Generals 
Bee  and  Bartow,  and  a  little  later  six  regiments 
of  Johnston's  newly  arrived  troops 

At  the  beginning  of  the  battle  General  Hunter 
was  wounded,  and  General  Andrew  ^Porter 
assumed  command  of  the  division.  Colonel 
Gilinau  Marston  of  Exeter.  N.  H.,  received  a 
wound  in  his  shoulder.  Many  other  officers  iell, 
including  Colonel  Cameron  of  the  Highlanders. 
Notwithstanding  the  Confederates  had  come  in 
such  heavy  force,  they  were  gradually  driven 
across  the  Warrenton  turnpike  and  a,  stream 
known  as  Young's  Branch.  Tho  ground  south 
of  that  stream  was  elevated,  and  an  effort  was 
made  to  rally  the  Confederates  near  the  houses 
of  Mr  Henry  and  Mr.  Robinson.  From  mv  posi- 
tion I  could  see  the  gradual  advance  of  the 
Union  troops.  When  the  Confederates  retreated 
there  was  a  lull  in  the  battle.  It  was  consider- 


THK    VARIED    UXII-'OUMS    AT    BULL    RUN. 


BATTLE    OP    BULL    RUN. 


23 


ably  past  noon  when  Heintzelman's  division 
arrived  upon  the  field.  Had  it  been  there  an 
hour  earlier  the  result  in  all  probability  would 
have  been  far  different  from  what  it  was.  At  10 
o'clock  Beauregard  was  waiting:  to  hear  the 
opening  of  battle  across  Bull  Run  on  his  right 
flank,  where  Gen.  Ewell  had  been  ordered  to 
begin  the  attack,  and  was  on  his  march,  when 
the  Union  cannon  opened  the  battle  faraway  in 
the  northwest  on  his  left  flank.  It  took 
Beauregard  some  time  to  comprehend 
its  meaning.  When  he  saw  that  McDow 
ell's  main  attack  was  in  that  direction 
he  sent  word  to  each  brigade  Commander  to 
march  toward  the  firing.  There  was  a  panic 
among  the  Confederates,  who  were  fleeing 
toward  Manassas.  In  vain  the  officers  tried  to 
stop  the  fugitives.  One  of  the  first  brigades, 
which  arrived  upon  the  hill  near  the  house  of 
Mr.  Henry,  was  commanded  by  Jackson.  It  was 
the  best  disciplined  of  all  the  Confederate 
brigades.  Jackson  took  a  position  behind  a  rail 
fence  in  a  thicket  of  young  pines.  General  Bee 
in  his  endeavor  to  encourage  his  own  troops, 
pointed  to  Jackson  and  said: 

"See  Jackson  standing  there  like  a  stone 
walll"  He  did  not  know  that  ne  was  giving  a 
historic  name  to  that  able  commander. 

The  Confederate  line  at  this  moment,  with 
the  exception  of  Jackson's  Brigade,  was  in 
great  contusion.  Fugitives  were  streaming 
toward  Manassas.  crying  that  all  was  lost. 
General  Beauregard,  in  his  account  of  the  bat- 
tle, says:  "The  disorder  seemed  irretrievable; 
but  the  thought  came  to  me  that  if  their  colors 
were  planted  to  the  front  the  men  might  rally 
around  them.  I  gave  the  order,  which  was 
executed.  1  he  soldiers  advanced  and  the  line 
was  formed." 

The  Union  troops  at  one  o'clock  were  on  the 
plateau  north  of  Young's  Branch.  An  error 
was  committed  either  by  General  McDowell  or 
one  of  his  subordinate  commanders.  He  or- 
dered the  batteries  of  Griffin  and  Ricketts  to  go 
across  the  stream  in  advance  of  the  iniantry. 
Ricketts  did  not  like  the  order,  but  obeyed.  At 
this  moment  the  brigades  of  Sherman  and  Keyes 
crossed  Bull  Run.  The  battery  commanded  by 
Captain  Griffin  was  ordered  to  cross  Young's 
Branch.  Griffin  objected.  He  said  that  he  had 
no  infantry  support  Major  Barry,  Chief  of  Ar- 
tillery, informed  him  that  the  Zouave  regiment 
was  to  support  him.  Griffin  thought  that  the 
regiment  ought  to  go  in  advance  until  he  could 
come  into  position.  Barry  informed  him  that 
McDowell  had  issued  the  order.  Grimn  said: 

"That  settles  it;  out  mark  my  words,  the 
Zouaves  will  not  support  you." 

The  two  batteries  crossed  the  stream  north- 
west  of  the  Henry  house  and  opened  a  de- 
structive fire  upon  the  Confederates  near  that 
building.  The  troops  under  Sherman  and  Keyes 
were  at  that  moment  advancing  toward  the 
Robinson  house.  Looking  westward  in  the 
direction  of  the  turnpike  1  saw  a  cloud  of  dust 
in  toe  distance,  and  wondered  what  it  might 
mean.  A  little  later  a  body  of  men  appeared 


south  of  the  turnpike.  They  climbed  over  a  rail 
fence  and  came  into  line;  an  officer  walked 
along  the  ranks,  as  if  saving  something  to  them. 
They  were  in  gray.  Griffin  saw  them  and  be- 
lieved them  to  be  Confederates.  His  cannon 
had  been  pointed  toward  the  Southeast:  he 
wheels  them  round  with  the  muzzles  toward 
the  West  and  loads  with  canister.  We  have 
arrived  at  a  turning  point  in  the  history  of  our 
country.  Major  Barry  shouts  to  Griffin  not  to 
tire.  Griffin  informs  him  that  they  are  rebels. 
Barry  replies  that  they  are  his  support  Griffin 
says  that  they  wear  gray  uniforms  and, 
surely,  are  rebels.  Barry  replies  that  it 
is  a  New  York  regiment,  wearing  a  gray 
uniform,  ordered  to  support  him.  Griffin 
wheels  his  guns  in  the  other  direction  toward 
the  Henry  house  and  opens  tire  once  more.  The 
men  in  gray  advance  across  the  Held,  come  to  a 
halt,  bring  their  guns  to  a  level  and  fire. 
Griffin's  men  and  horses  go  down.  Nearly 
every  gunner  is  killed  or  wounded.  The  horses 
plunge  madly  down  the  ravine.  It  is  the  be- 
ginning of  a  panic.  The  Zouave  regiment, 
which  had  been  ordered  to  support  Ricketts, 
beholds  the  spectacle  in  amazement,  breaks 
and  streams  across  the  field.  Vain  are 
the  efforts  of  the  officers  to  rally 
them.  A  moment  later  Ricketts's  horses  were 
shot,  with  many  of  his  men.  The  troops  in 
gray  who  had  given  this  deliberate  volley 
were  from  Johnston's  army.  They  had  just  ar- 
rived upon  the  field,  having  left  the  cars  at  the 
crossing  of  the  Warrenton  turnpike.  They  had 
fired  a  volley,  which  changed  the  tide  of  affairs. 
Five  minutes  before,  the  fortune  of  the  hour 
was  against  the  Confederates.  If  Major  Barry 
had  not  assured  Griffin  that  they  were  not  Con- 
federates, they  would  have  been  cut  to  pieces 
by  the  canister  of  Griffin's  guns.  For  a  short 
time  there  was  a  severe  contest  between  How- 
ard and  Sherman  and  the  Confederates,  but  the 
panic  was  increasing  among  the  Union  troops. 

While  the  volleys  ol  musKetry  were  rolling 
heavily  in  this  contest  I  left  my  position  and 
went  into  a  piece  of  woods  a  few  rods  south  of  the 
turnpike  to  quench  my  thirst  at  a  spring,  where 
the  soldiers  of  Schenk's  Brigade  were  tilling 
their  canteens.  Just  before  leaving  the  roof  of 
the  house,  looking  across  Bull  Run,  I  saw  a 
body  of  troops  advancing  toward  Schenk.  I 
informed  Col.  McCook,  commanding:  an  Ohio 
regiment,  of  what  I  had  seen.  On  my  way  to 
the  spring  I  passed  Carlisle's  and  Arnold's 
Batteries,  and  sa\v  the  horses  eating  their 
oats.  While  drinking  at  the  spring  I  heard 
a  great  commotion,  and  looking  through  the 
woods  saw  a  b9dy  of  Confederates  dasning 
toward  the  turnpike.  Had  I  remained  upon  the 
roof  of  the  house  I  should  have  been  directly  in 
their  line  of  advance.  Looking  toward  the  turn- 
pike I  saw  sol  liers  running  in  haste  toward 
Centreville.  Then  came  baggage  wagons,  hacks 
containing  members  of  Congress,  baggies,  and 
then  the  two  batteries  with  the  horses  upon  the 
run.  One  of  the  artillery  carriages  struck  a 
hack,  which  the  next  moment  was  capsized.  I 
knew  that  something  had  happened,  but  just 
what  it  might  be  was beyond  my  comprehension. 


24 


STORIES    OF   OUR   SOLDIERS. 


1  did  not  stand  upon  the  order  of  my  going;,  bat 
went.  For  the  next  five  minutes  the  grass  did 
not  grow  beneath  mv  feet,  but,  upon  reaching 
Cui>  Bun,  a  brook  flowing  through  a  deep  and 
nigged  ravine,  I  stopped  and  surveyed  the 
scene.  A  short  distance  north  was  a  stream  of 
fugitives  crossing  a  rickety  bridge,  which  a  few 
moments  later  broke  beneath  its  weight,preveut 
ing  the  batteries  from  crossing  it.  It  was 
through  the  breaking  flown  of  this  bridge  that 
the  guns  finally  fell  into  the  hands  of  the 
Confederates.  Ascending  the  hill  to 
Centre ville  I  came  upon  Blenker's  Brig- 
ade, which  had  been  held  in  reserve. 
There  was  no  panic  at  this  point  The  soldiers 
were  in  line  and  in  good  order.  Much  was  writ- 
ten at  the  time  about  the  Black  Horse  Confed- 
erate Cavalry  as  having  cut  the  troops  to  pieces. 
JThe  story  is  wholly  fiction.  A  battalion  of  Con- 
federate cavalry  made  its  appearance,  but  was 
quickly  scattered  by  the  artillery.  The  only 
guns  lost  on  the  nel-i  were  those  of  Griffin  and 
Kickett.t.  and  at  Cub  Run. 

I  have  snoKen  of  the  correspondent  of  the 
London  Times.  Mr.  RusselL  He  was  at  Centre- 
ville  in  a  great  state  of  excitement,  inquiring  if 
any  had  seen  "a  British  gentleman  in  a  gig  with 
a  nigger."  He  had  left  Mr.  Warre,  an  attache 
of  the  British  legation,  and  a  negro  boy  at 
Centreville.  He  bad  ridden  down  the  turnpike 
toward  Stone  Bridge,  but  had  seen  nothing  of 
the  battle.  He  was  compelled  to  make  his  way 
to  Washington  on  a  hard  riding  pony,  very  much 


to  his  disgust.  An  amusing  account  of 
nis  ride  was  given  by  Mr.  Ray,  editor  of  the 
Chicago  Tribune.  Mr.  Russell  vented  his  spleen 
in  a  letter  to  the  London  Times,  and  became  so 
abusive  of  the  Northern  troops  that  his  oass  was 
subsequently  revoked.  He  took  his  revenge  by 
writing  several  pages  of  fiction  which  he  pub- 
lished in  a  volume  entitled  "My  Diary,  North 
and  South." 

Wa  now  know  that  the  Confederate  army, 
when  the  panic  began,  was  in  great  disorder, 
and  that  fugitives  were  streaming  to  Manas- 
sas  crying  that  the  day  was  lost.  In  fact  there 
was  a  panic  in  both  armies.  It  was  one  of  the 
strangest  spectacles  of  the  war. 

The  panic  was  more  among  the  teamsters 
than  among  the  troops.  Many  of  the  regiments 
retired  in  good  order.  One  of  the  soldiers  of  the- 
Second  New  Hamushire,  Calvin  M.  buroank. 
from  my  native  town,  shouldered  a  wounded 
comrade  and  carried  him  a  long  distance  to  an 
ambulanca  The  Confederates  made  no  pursuit; 
they  were  too  demoralized  to  make  the  attempt 
The  battle  ot  Bunker  Hill  was  a  defeat  to  the 
Americans,  yet,  when  viewed  in  the  light  of 
history,  it  was  a  victory.  And  so  with  Bull  Run. 
Had  the  Union  army  swept  the  Confe  lerates 
from  the  field,  the  chances  are  that  there  might 
have  been  a  compromise,  and  slavery  remained 
unharmed.  Out  of  the  defeat  came  final  vic- 
tory and  the  beginning  of  a  new  life  for  the 
nation. 


ANTIETAM. 


The  battle  of  Antietam  was  fought  Sept.  17, 
1862.  a  little  more  than  30  years  ago.  Gen.  Lee 
bad  been  appointed  Comman  ler-in-Chiet  of  the 
Confederate  Army  in  the  preceding  May  imme- 
diately after  the  battle  of  Fair  Oaks.  By  his 
strategy  in  bringing  Stonewall  Jackson  from 
the  Shenandoah  to  the  Peninsula,  he  had  com- 
pelled Me Cl el  Ian  to  change  his  base  to 
James  River.  He  then  conceived  the  idea 
of  menacing  Washington  and  invading  Mary- 
land. He  had  two  objects  in  view,  bringing: 
Maryland  into  the  Confederacy  and  carrying 
the  war,  if  possible,  into  Pennsylvania.  By  such 
a  movement  he  would  compel  McClellan  to 
hasten  northward.  The  plan  was  carried  out 
with  great  vigor  and  energy.  The  strategy  was 
successful.  Then  came  the  series  of  battles  in 
the  vicinity  of  Manassas,  the  demoralization  of 
the  Union  Army,  its  reorganization  under  Mc- 
Clellan, After  the  battle  of  Manassas  General 
Lee  crossed  the  Potomac  at  Edward's  Ferry  and 
vicinity,  and  moved  to  Fredericksburg  with 
Longstreet's  Corns,  divided  his  army  by 
sending  Jackson  to  capture  Harper's  Ferry  held 
by  Gen.  Miles  with  10,000  men.  It  was  a  Tory 
bold  and  audacious  movement.  The  Confeder- 
ate Army  wan  worn  by  hard  marching  a»*l  by 
its  successive  b*ulos.  It  was  far  from  its  bast 
of  supplies,  and  must  live  in  a  large  degree 
upon  the  surrounding  country.  It  was  reduced 
in  numbers  to  less  than  50,000.  The  troops 
under  McClellan  exceeded  100,000.  The  army 
had  been  transferred  from  the  James  to 
Alexandria  on  steamboats,  and  was  not  worn 
down  by  hard  marching,  and  was.  therefore,  in 
excellent  condition. 

Previous  to  the  battle  of  Antietam  I  had  been 
with  the  Western  army,  but  returned  East 
during  the  week  of  the  Seven  Day's  battles  in 


front  of  Richmond.  I  visited  Washington,  but 
the  War  Department  would  not  permit  me  to  join 
the  army.  When  General  Lee  invaded  Mary- 
land I  hastened  to  Pennsylvania  to  be  an  ob- 
server of  what  might  take  place  as  the  Con- 
federates advanced  into  Maryland.  I  was  at 
Greencastle  during  the  engagement  at  South 
Mountain,  and  could  hear  the  cannonade,  but 
was  not  near  enough  to  see  the  battle.  The 
Confederate  cavalry  were  in  Hagerstown,  to 
which  I  hastened  upon  their  departure. 

It  is  not  often  that  a  General  commanding  a 
great  army  comes  into  possession  of  a  document 
revealing  all  the  plans  of  his  opponent,  but  such 
a  paper  fell  into  the  hands  of  Gen.  McClellan  at 
Frederick.  Immediately  after  Lee  left  that 
town  the  Union  cavalry  entered  it  A  soldier 
picked  up  a  paper  in  the  house  which  Gen.  D. 
H.  Hill  had  occupied  which  proved  to  be  a  copy 
of  i>ee's  or  iers.  giving  all  the  details  of  the  pro- 
posed movements  of  the  Confederate  Army.  A 
portion  of  Longstreet's  troops  would  be 
at  Hagerstown.  a  portion  at  South 
Mountain  and  Boonsbowo'.  Jackson  would 
be  30  miles  distant  M  Harper's  Ferry. 
The  time  had  come  for  McClellan  to 
matte  a  vigorous  movement;  but  he  did  not 
avail  himself  of  the  grand  opportunity  to  anni- 
hilate Longstreet  before  Jackson  could  capture 
Harper's  Ferry  and  join  him.  Quickness  an* 
resolute  energy  were  all  important  considera- 
tions. Instead  of  celerity  there  was  tardiness 
in  moving  and  »  lack  of  vigor  in  action.  The 
battle  at  South  Mountain  was  fought  Sunday, 
September  14.  resulting  in  the  defeat  of  the 
Confederates.  General  Franklin  moved  to 
Crampton's  Gap  farther  south  and  easily  de- 
feated the  Confederate  troops  under  Gen- 
eral McLaws  at  that  point.  The  troops 
at  Harper's  Ferry  could  hear  the 


28 


STORIES   OF   OUR   SOLDIERS. 


cannon  at  Crampton's  Gap.  They  knew 
that  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  was  fighting  its 
way  to  their  relief,  but  at  8  o'clock  on  Monday 
morning.  Sect  15,  the  pusillanimous  com- 
mander. Miles,  against  the  remonstrances 
of  his  officers  and  soldiers,  raised  a  white  flag 
in  token  of  surrender.  A  moment  later,  he  was 
mortally  wounded.  Thus,  Harper's  Ferry,  with 
eleven  thousand  men  and  seventy-three  can- 
non, through  the  incapacity  of  Miles  and  the 
tardiness  of  McClellan,  was  lost.  Miles  nad 
made  verr  little  resistance.  Some  of  his 
troops  shed  tears  over  the  disgrace  and  hu- 
miliation. 

General  Lee,  after  capturing  Harper's 
Ferry,  could  have  recrossecl  the  Potomac,  but 
preferred  to  tight  a  battle  in  Maryland. 
He  selected  a  field  where  it  would  be  impossi- 
ble for  McClellan  to  turn  either  flank,  or  get  in 
his  rear.  It  was  a  good  position  on  the  west 
bank  of  Antietam  Creek,  which  rises  north  of 
Hagerstown.  runs  south  and  empties  into  the 
Potomac,  three  miles  south  of  Sharpsburg.  It 
can  be  lorded  in  many  places.  At  daybreak. 
September  15,  McClellan's  troops  were  in 
possession  of  South  Mountain,  seven  miles  from 
Antietam,  At  that  moment  the  Union  cavalry 
under  Pleasanton  were  dashing  upon  Lee's 
rear  guard  at  Boonsboro',  capturin?  two  cannon 
and  250  prisoners.  At  the  same  hour  McClellan 
was  issuing  his  orders  for  the  army  to  move  on; 
but  it  was  half  past  twelve  at  noon  before  any 
of  the  troops  had  started  Late  in  the 
afternoon  Ricnardson's  division  of  Sumner's 
Corps  reached  the  eastern  bank  of  the  Antietam. 
In  contrast  to  such  slowness  was  the  rapidity 
with  which  Stonewall  Jackson  moved  his 
troops,  Between  tne  morning  of  September  12 
and  the  evening  of  September  16  a  portion  of 
Jackson's  troops  marched  sixty  miles  and  cap- 
tured eleven  thousand  Union  troops.  These 
preliminary  remarks  will  enable  as  better  to 
comprehend  the  battle  of  Antietam. 

Soon  after  my  arrival  in  Hagerstown  the 
Union  cavalry  which  had  escaped  from  Harper's 
Ferry  crossed  tne  Potomac.  They  followed 
winding  forest  paths  through  the  woods,  avoid- 
in?  the  main  roads,  until  north  of  Sharpsbure. 
While  crossing  the  Williamsport  and  Hasers- 
town  road  they  came  upon  Longstreet's  am- 
munition train  in  the  night.  The  officer  com- 
manding the  cavalry,  riding  up  to  the  forward 
driver,  said  quietly: 

"You  are  on  the  wrong  road.  That  is  the 
road  for  you  to  take,"  pointing  to  the  Hagers- 
town  turnpike. 

The  driver  turned  as  directed,  not  knowing 
that  the  officer  was  a  Yankee. 

"Hold  on  there!  You  are  on  the  wrong  road. 
Who  told  you  to  turn  off  here?  "  shouted  the 
Confederate  officer  in  charge  of  the  train,  dash- 
ing up  on  his  horse. 

'  I  gave  the  order,  sir,  and  you  are  my  pris- 
oner, said  the  Colonel  of  the  Eighth  New  Jer- 
sey, presenting  his  revolver.  One  hundred 
wagons  and  74  men  were  thus  captured.  At  the 
head  of  the  prisoners  marched  a  man  with 
downcast  eyes,  sun  burned,  dressed  in  gray,  with 
a  black  feather  in  his  hat— Fiti-Hugh  Miller,  a 


Pennsylvanian.  It  was  he  who  arrested  Cook,  one 
of  John  Brown's  accomplices,  in  1859,  ana  deliv- 
ered him  to  Governor  Wise  of  Virginia.  Cook 
was  hung  py  the  Virginians.  When  the  war 
broke  out  Miller  went  South  and  was  a  Captain 
in  Lee's  army.  When  the  people  learned  that 
he  was  a  prisoner  they  became  greatly  excited. 
Some  picked  UP  stones  to  hurl  at  him  ;  others 
shook  their  fists  in  his  face,  but  the  guards  pro- 
tected him.  He  was  taken  to  Chambersburg, 
where  an  attempt  was  made  to  hang  him  by  the 
excited  populace,  but  he  was  protected.  What 
finally  became  of  him  I  do  not  know. 

I  passec  tne  nicrht  of  tne  iBth  in  Hagerstown. 
Soon  after  daylight,  on  the  morning  of  the  17th. 
I  mounted  my  hqrsa  The  southwest  breeze 
brought  the  booming  of  the  cannonade  at  An- 
tietam—the  beginning  of  the  battla  The 
people  of  the  town  rushed  into  the  streets,  lis- 
tening to  the  reverberations  rolling  along  the 
valley.  It  was  a  dull  morning  and  the  clouds 
were  hanging  low.  I  had  a  seven-mile  ride 
before  ine  to  reach  the  field.  I  half  resolved  to 
go  down  the  turnpike  to  Sharpsburg,  and,  if 
possible,  gain  the  rear  of  the  Confederates  and 
see  the  battle  from  the  Confederate  side.  I  was  in 
citizen's  dress,  and  thought  it  probable  I  might 
mingle  with  the  citizens  of  Sharpsburg  and 
not  be  detecteo.  If  1  could  accomplish  my  ob- 
ject it  would  be  a  journalistic  feat  which  no 
other  correspon  !ent  had  undertaken.  I  turned 
down  the  turnpike  with  that  purpose  in  view.but 
a  short  distance  brought  me  to  several  men  sit- 
ting on  a  rail  fence  listening  to  the  uproar  of 
the  cannonade.  I  aske-l  thorn  if  the  'oad  would 
take  me  to  the  rear  of  the  Confederates,  Some 
thought  it  would,  others  mat  it  would  not 
"If  I  were  in  y<mr  place  I  wouldn't  go. 
You  are  too  much  of  a  Yankee,  and  the 
chances  are  that  the  re;>s  will  take  you  to 
Richmond"  said  one.  I  saw  the  matter  in  a  new 
light  and  took  the  Boonsboro'  road  instead, 
winch  took  me  to  the  right  fiank  of  McClellan's 
army.  A  short  ride  brougut  me  to  a  Confeder- 
ate soldier  lying  under  a  tree  by  the  road  side. 
As  I  galloped  toward  him  he  partly  rose  and 
raised  his  hand  as  if  to  ask  me  not  to  shoot  him. 
Seeing  that  I  was  a  citizen  and  not  a  soldier,  be 
wearily  laid  down  again.  He  had  broken  down 
in  the  march  and  was  unable  to  go  any  farther. 
His  cheeks  were  hollow,  his  eyes  sunken,  his 
voice  faint. 

He  said  he  had  lain  beneath  the  oak  a  day  and 
a  niglit  waiting  death,  expecting  no  help  or 
mercy  from  any  one.  Two  kind-hearted  farmers 
came  and  took  him  into  one  of  their  houses. 
The  unexpected  kindness  filled  his  eyes  with 
tears.  Galloping  on  I  met  several  Union  sol- 
diers, who  inquired  the  road  to  Hagerstown, 
saving  they  nad  been  ordered  to  that  place. 
I  knew  they  were  cowards,  who  had  flecl  from 
the  battlefield.  Having  reached  the  flank  of 
the  army  I  tore  down  a  gap  in  the 
fence,  leaped  my  horse  across  it  and 
ascended  a  hill  on  Mr.  Hoffman's  farm.  The 
battle  was  raging  fiercely.  I  came  upon  a 
pitiful  sight— tne  field  hospital,  where  the 
ground  was  literally  covered  with  the  wounded. 


STORIES    OF    OUR    S 


had  been  torn  from  the  fence,  the  rails  thrown 
down  and  the  garden  trampled.  It  had  been 
trodden  by  the  Confederates  in  their  retreat  and 
by  Hooker's  men  in  their  advance  aud  retreat. 
Riding  down  the  turnpiKe  southward  I  came 
upon  a  Union  soldier  crouching  beneath  the 
wall 

"  Where  are  you  going?  "  he  inquired. 

"I  thought  I  would  go  to  the  front." 

"The  front  1  You  have  passed  it,  1  am  on 
the  skirmish  line :  you  had  better  get  out  or 
here  mighty  quick  The  rebs  are  in  the  corn 
right  there." 

The  advice  was  timely  and  1  turned  back 
none  too  soon,  for  a  little  later  the  artillery 
opened.  Passing  in  rear  of  the  batteries  at 
Poftenburger's  1  came  UDOU  the  Twelfth  Corps, 
commanded  by  General  Mansfield.  I  had  made 
nis  acquaintance  earlv  in  the  war  at  Washing- 
ton. He  was  advanced  in  years,  white  haired, 
thin  and  spare,  but  his  eye  was  keen  and  he 
was  active,  brave  and  energetic.  He  had  only 
two  small  divisions,  and  had  deployed  his  line 
from  Dr.  Miller's  house  southward  tbrou&rh 
a  cornfield.  A  short  time  before  my 
arrival  he  rode  along  the  line,  his 
long  white  hair  streaming  in  the  wind.  The 
Confederate  sharpshooters,  crouching  in  tne 
corn  west  of  the  turnpike,  from  which  1  had 
turned  back,  singled  him  out— a  conspicuous  ob- 
ject near  the  large  oaK  tree  which  1  have  men- 
tioned, where  he  fell  mortally  wounued.  Gen. 
Williams  succeeded  to  the  command  The  divi- 
sion moved  down  the  gentle  slope,  passed 
Miller's  house,  crossed  the  turnpike,  drove  the 
Confederate  skirmishers  from  the  cornfield  be- 
yond and  advanced  to  the  woods  near  the 
Dunker  Church,  encountering  Hood's  division 
posted  behind  the  limestone  ledges  and  the  rail 
lence.  Stuart's  artillery,  on  the  hill  behind  the 
house  of  Mr.  Nicodemus.  was  in  a  position  to 
send  an  enfilading  tire  upon  Mansfield's  troops. 
There  was  a  short  and  sharp  contest,  in  which 
the  corps  suffered  heavy  loss.  Having  no  sup- 
ports they  fell  back  across  the  turnpike,  leaving 
the  ground  strewn  with  killed  and  wounded. 

I  have  said  nothing  of  Hooker's  attack,  as  1 
did  not  witness  it :  it  was  over  before  I  arrived 
upon  the  field.  Hooker  was  wounded  and  hi! 
troops  took  no  more  part  in  the  battle.  He  had 
two  volunteer  citizen  aids  in  the  battle,  one  the 
late  Charles  R.  Train  of  Framinsham,  who 
had  a  narrow  escape  from  a  shell  which  ex- 
ploded over  his  head;  the  other  G.  W.  Smalley. 
correspondent  of  the  New  York  Tribune,  and  at 
present  located  in  London,  whose  horse  was 
wounded. 

Two  attempts  had  been  made  to  carry  the 
position  at  the  Dunker  Church,  both  ending  in 
failure.  Had  they  been  made  unitedly,  it  seems 
probable  that  Stuart's  battery  could  have  been 
driven  from  the  hills  west  of  the  Nicodemus 
house  and  the  flank  of  Jackson  turned.  The 
third  attempt  was  made  by  Sedgwick's  Di- 
vision of  Sumner's  Corps,  1  found  it  in  the 
woods  east  of  the  Dunker  Church.  I  came  upon 
Gen.  Howard,  then  commander  of  a  brigade.  I 
had  made  his  acquaintance  early  in  the  war 


He  gave  me  a  hearty  welcome,  extending  his 
left  hand.  He  had  lost  his  right  arm  at  Will- 
iamsburg.  Not  having  any  pass  he  kindly 
wrote  one  for  me  while  sitting  in  hi.s  saddle. 
We  had  not  much  time  for  conversation.  He 
hurriedly  gave  me  the  organization  of  the 
division. 

It  was  half-past  seven  in  the  morning  when 
Sumner  received  his  orders  from  McClellan  to 
cross  the  Antietam.  He  had  been  in  P9sition  on 
the  eastern  batiks  for  36  hours,  and  might  have 
opened  the  attack  before  sunset  on  the  16th, 
but  no  orders  had  come  to  him  Through  the 
morning  the  troops  had  heard  the  deafening 
cannonade  and  rolls  of  musketry.  When  Sum- 
ner received  his  order  he  was  more  than  two 
miles  distant  from  the  battlefield.  The  troops 
had  made  the  march;  had  met  stragglers 
and  ambulances  filled  with  wounded ;  they 
knew  that  Hooker  and  Mansfield  had  been 
repulsed  with  heavy  loss.  The  battle  thus 
far  has  gone  against  the  Union  troops.  Sumner 
forms  the  division  in  three  lines,  Gorman  in 
front,  then  Dana  and  then  Howard's  brigades. 
It  is  a  faulty  formation.  He  does  not  throw 
out  any  flankers  to  guard  him  from  a  sMe  at- 
tack, neither  does  he  send  a  line  of  skirmishers 
in  advance.  One  can  hardly  understand  how  a 
veteran  officer  could  have  I ormed  hi.s  troops  in 
that  order.  Sumner  had  been  educated  as  a 
cavalry  commander  Cavalry  tactics  form 
bodies  in  the  mass  rather  than  in  deployed 
lines.  It  seems  probable  that  in  this  formation 
he  used  the  tactics  of  the  cavalry  instead  of  the 
infantry  Possibly  he  may  have  concluded  that 
French  s  division,  which  was  to  advance  on  his 
left,  would  protect  Sedgwick.  But  French  waa 
a  mile  away  when  Sedgwick  advanced. 

The  troops  move  out  from  the  woods  into  the 
open  field.  Instantly  the  hill  behind  the  house 
of  Nicodemus  burst  into  flame  and  the  shell* 
explode  amid  the  advancing  lines.  The  Con- 
federate cannon  by  the  church  send  a  storm  of 
solid  shot  and  shells  into  the  faces  of  the  ad 
vaucing  troops.  But  on.  closing  the  traps,  they 
advance  to  the  turnpike,  across  it  into  the 
woods,  up  to  the  church,  breasting  the  storm 
that  burst  upon  them  from  the  ledges  and  the 
rail  fence,  Sumner  does  not  mistrust  that  there 
are  ten  Confederate  brigades  concealed  in  the 
hollow  and  behind  the  fences  between  the 
church  and  old  Muma's  honse,  east  of  the  turn- 
pike, ready  to  swing  upon  Sedgwick.  Gor 
man's  and  Dana's  brigades  have  crossed  the 
turnpike  and  Howard's  is  in  the  field  east  of  it, 
when  the  Confederates  rise  from  the  hollow, 
Sumner  is  talking  with  Colonel  Kimbail,  com 
manding  the  Fifteenth  Massachusetts,  when 
Major  Philbrick  of  that  regiment  shouts'  "See! 
The  rebels."  Sumner  looks  in  the  direction  to 
which  Philbrick  points  and  exclaims;  "My  God  I 
We  must  get  out  of  this."  He  directs  Howard 
to  change  front.  Howard  has  been  facing  west, 
but  must  bring  his  troops  to  face  the  southeast, 
The  resiment  on  his  extreme  left,  the  Seventy- 
second  Pennsylvania,  is  the  first  to  feel  the 
blow.  An  overwhelming  force  is  advancing 
rapidly  Howard  has  not  time  to  form  a  new 


ANTIETAM. 


33 


line.  fli»  men  are  thrown  Into  confusion. 
Less  than  thirty  minutes  have  passed  since  the 
division  advanced  across  the  field.  Instead  of 
continuing  the  battle,  there  is  but  one  thing  to 
be  done  aud  that  is  to  retreat.  The  troops  can- 
not return  to  the  woods  from  which  they  have 
emerged,  but  are  compelled  to  retire  northwara 
over  the  ground  where  Mansfield  and  Hooker 
have  fought,  toward  Miller's  and  Poffeubur 
arer's  houses.  The  struggle  is  brief,  but  the 
division  suffers  great  loss.  In  less  than  twenty 
minutes  more  than  2000  are  killed  or  wounded. 
The  Nineteenth  Massachusetts  went  into  action 
with  606  officers  and  men.  and  lost  343.  The 
Fifteenth  Massachusetts  faced  about  in  a  line 
perpendicular  to  the  Hagerstowu  pike,  and 
fought  gallautlv  for  a  few  minutes  and 
held  the  Confederates  in  check.  Portions 
of  other  regiments  ralhe'l  and  contested 
the  ground  valiantly.  But  overborne  and  put- 
numbered,  the  entire  command  moved  rapidly 
away.  As  soon  as  possible,  without  en  i anger- 
ing tho  retreating  WOODS,  the  Union  batteries 
opened  fire  upon  the  Confederates,  who,  in  turn, 
were  driven  by  the  storm  of  canister  buried 
upon  them.  The  Confederate  commander,  Gen. 
Hood,  in  his  account  of  the  battle,  sai  i  that  the 
losses  of  the  Confe  lerates  were  very  great  in 
this  short  melee.  His  words  are.  "  Here  I  wit- 
nessed the  most  terrible  clash  of  arms,  by  far, 
that  has  occurred  during  the  war." 

In  my  next  letter  1  shall  give  an  account  of 
what  I  saw  of  the  battle  in  the  centre  and  on 
the  left 

A  little  before  noon  General  McClellan  and 
staff  crossed  the  Autietam  and  rode  up  to  the 
woods  from  wnich  Seilgwick  had  advanced.  He 
looked  over  the  field  toward  the  Danker 
OtiaiOh,  examined  with  his  glass  the  Confed- 
erate position  a  few  moments,  role  along  the 
lines  a  short  distance  and  returned  to  his  head- 
quarters. I  recall  the  advance  of  French's 
division  across  the  field  to  the  left  of  Sedgwick. 
It  was  advancing  with  brigade  front.  The  sun 
at  that  moment  burst  through  the  clouds  and 
"was  reflected  from  gun  arrel  and  bayonet. 
There  was  a  light  breeze  from  the  southwest 
sufficient  to  display  the  flasrs  in  all  their  beauty. 
It  was  an  inspiring  spectacle.  And  yet  as  1  be- 
held it  i  experienced  a  feeling  of  sadness,  know- 
ing that  before  sundown  many  of  those  brave 
men  would  be  killed  or  wounded.  I  followed 
McClellan  back  to  his  headquarters  located  at 
a  large  farmhouse.  From  that  point,  of 
view,  with  the  telescopes  belonging  to  the 
headquarters,  the  officers  of  his  staff  could  see 
the  battlefield  from  the  Bunker  CUurch,  south- 
ward to  Sharpsburg.  McClellan  was  sitting 
upon  the  piazza,  in  conversation  with  Fitz- 
John  Porter,  whose  corps  was  near  at  hand, 
numbering  12,000.  It  was  secreted  from  the 
-enemy  by  a  hill.  Southward  the  cannon  of 
Buruside  were  thundering  to  dislodge  a  bri- 
gade of  Confederates  secreted  in  a  stone  quarry 
overlooking  the  bri  Ige  which  Burnside  de- 
Sired  to  use  in  crossing  the  Antietam.  After 
a  short  stay  at  the  headquarters  1  rode  forward 
toward  the  houses  of  Messrs.  Muma  and  Rulet 
Tney  are  situated  on  the  west  bank  of  the 
Antietam,  near  the  centre  of  McClellan's  line  of 


battle.  They  were  held  by  the  Confederates. 
Gen.  French  at  the  moment  was  preparing  to 
advance  toward  Mania's  bouse  on  the  right. 
Half  of  his  division  was  north  of  a  little  brook, 
wnich  winds  down  from  the  hills,  the  other  half 
south  of  it.  He  had  three  brigades— Weber's, 
Kimball's  and  Morris's.  The  last  named  was 
composed  of  new  troops,  which  never  nad  heard 
the  roar  of  battle  until  that  morning. 

i  he  hillside  on  the  right  suddenly  burst  into 
dame,  the  Union  batteries  began  a  cannonade, 
under  cover  of  whiou  French  advanced.  The 
white  powder  clouds  floated  uowu  the  ravine, 
and  swept  over  the  men.  It  was  beautiful  to 
see  through  its  rifts  the  Stars  and  stripes 
waving  in  the  sunlight.  From  the  hill  beyond 
Muma's  house  the  Confederate  artillery  opened 
fire,  a  portion  of  the  guns  replying  to  the  Union 
artillery,  and  another  portion  burling  shells 
upon  the  advancing  line.  A  short  distance 
from  Muma's  house  was  a  cemetery,  Irom  which 
came  puffs  oi  smoke  from  mu.skets  fired  by  men 
conceale  i  behind  the  wtiite  marble  headstones. 
Otuer  sharpshooters  fired  from  tne  win  tows. 
French's  skirmishers  crept  along  the  fences  and 
soon  drove  the  Confederates  from  the  cemetery 
and  the  house,  which  was  set  on  tire  either  by 
the  departing  enemy  or  by  a  shell.  The  build- 
ings burned  rapidly.  If  there  can  be 
grandeur  in  a  battle  scene,  the  scenery 
at  this  moment  formed  a  grand  picture, 
with  the  cannon  of  both  armies  naming, 
the  buildings  on  fire,  a  dark  pillar  of  cioud 
rising  heavenward,  10,000  men  advancing 
slowly  across  the  green  fields,  their  banners 
waving  and  bayonets  gleaming  in  tlie  sun- 
light Just  beyond  the  house  of  Mr.  Muma  is 
a  road  leading  from  the  Hagerstown  turnpike, 
near  the  church,  to  the  Boonsboro'  turnpike. 
It  is  spoken  of  now  as  the  "sunken"  road.  It 
formed  a  natural  rifle-pit  for  the  Confederate 
troops  under  D  H.  Hill.  Beyond  this 
way  was  a  corn  field,  in  which  Hill  sta- 
tioned his  second  line,  with  his  artillery 
planted  on  a  knoll  higher  up,  near  the  Hagers- 
town  turnpike.  It  is  but  a  short  distance  south- 
ward from  Muma's  to  Kulet's  house.  Beyond 
the  latter  the  ground  rises  sharp  and  steep  for  a 
short  distance,  and  then  descends  slightly 
toward  the  sunken  road.  The  house  and  the 
large  barn  of  Mr.  Rulet,  with  the  peach  tree* 
and  appie  orchard  immediately  behind  it.  wa» 
a  conspicuous  point  French's  division  ex- 
tended to  these  uuildings.  Immediately  south 
of  it  Richardson's  division  was  in  line  preparing 
to  advance  up  tne  steep  slope  upon  the  Confed- 
erates concealed  in  the  sunken  road 

The  line  of  advance  taken  by  French  led 
Wooer's  brigade  directly  against  the  smoking 
ruins  of  the  building :  Kimball's  passed  between 
the  two  houses.  As  Weber's  troops  moved 
across  the  field  past  the  burial  ground  some  of 
the  skirmishers  paused  a  moment,  rested  their 
rifles  on  the  headstones  and  took  a  long  shot 
at  the  second  line  of  Confederates  in  the 
corn  field.  Kimball's  brigade  was  divided  by 
Rulet's  buildings,  but  after  passing  them 


STORIES    OF    OUR    SOLDIERS 


had  been  torn  from  the  fence,  the  rails  thrown 
down  and  the  garden  trampled.  It  had  been 
trodden  by  the  Confederates  in  their  retreat  and 
by  Hooker's  men  iii  their  advance  and  retreat. 
Riding  down  the  turnpifce  southward  I  came 
upon  a  Union  soldier  crouching  beneath  the 
wall 

"  Where  are  you  going?  "  he  inquired. 

"Ithought  I  would  go  to  the  front. 

"The  front  I  You  have  passed  it.  1  am  on 
the  skirmish  line ;  you  had  better  get  out  of 
here  mighty  quick  The  rebs  are  in  the  corn 
right  there." 

The  advice  was  timely  and  1  turned  back 
none  too  soon,  for  a  little  later  the  artillery 
opened.  Passing  in  rear  of  the  batteries  at 
Poffen  burger's  I  came  UDOU  the  Twelfth  Corps, 
commanded  by  General  Mansfield.  I  had  made 
His  acquaintance  earlv  in  the  war  at  Washing- 
ton. He  was  advanced  in  years,  white  haired, 
thin  and  spare,  but  bis  Aye  was  keen  and  he 
was  active,  brave  and  energetic.  He  had  only 
two  small  divisions,  and  had  deployed  his  line 
from  Dr.  Miller's  house  southward  through 
a  cornfield.  A  short  time  before  ray 
arrival  he  rode  along  the  line,  his 
long  white  hair  streaming  in  the  wind.  The 
Confederate  sharpshooters,  crouching  in  the 
corn  west  of  the  turnpike,  from  which  1  had 
turned  back,  singled  him  out— a  conspicuous  ob- 
ject near  the  large  oak  tree  which  1  nave  men- 
tioned, where  he  fell  mortally  wounded.  Gen. 
Williams  succeeded  to  the  command  The  divi- 
sion moved  down  the  gentle  slope,  passed 
Miller's  house,  crossed  the  turnpike,  drove  the 
Confederate  skirmishers  from  the  cornfield  be- 
yond and  advanced  to  the  woods  near  the 
Dunker  Church,  encountering  Hood's  division 
posted  behind  the  limestone  ledges  and  the  rail 
fence.  Stuart's  artillery,  on  the  hill  behind  the 
house  of  Mr.  Nicodemus.  was  in  a  position  to 
Bend  an  enfilading  tire  upon  Mansfield's  troops. 
There  was  a  short  and  sharp  contest,  in  which 
the  corps  suffered  heavy  loss.  Having  no  sup- 
ports they  fell  back  across  the  turnpike,  leaving 
the  ground  strewn  with  killed  and  wounded. 

I  have  said  nothing  of  Hooker's  attack,  as  1 
did  not  witness  it:  it  was  over  before  I  arrived 
upon  the  field.  Hooker  was  wounded  and  his 
troops  took  no  more  part  in  the  battle.  He  had 
two  volunteer  citizen  aids  in  the  battle,  one  the 
late  Charles  R.  Train  of  Fr, trainer  ham,  who 
had  a  narrow  escape  from  a  shell  which  ex- 
ploded over  his  head;  the  other  G.  W.  Smalley. 
correspondent  of  the  New  York  Tribune,  and  at 
present  located  in  London,  whose  horse  was 
wounded. 

Two  attempts  had  been  made  to  carry  the 
position  at  the  Dunker  Church,  both  ending  in 
failure.  Had  they  been  made  unitedly,  it  seems 
probable  that  Stuart's  battery  could  have  been 
driven  from  the  hills  west  of  the  Nicodemus 
house  and  the  flank  of  Jackson  turned.  The 
third  attempt  was  made  by  Sedgwick's  Di- 
vision of  Sumner's  Corps.  1  found  it  in  the 
woods  east  of  the  Dunker  Church.  I  came  upon 
Gen.  Howard,  then  commander  of  a  brigade.  I 
had  made  his  acquaintance  early  in  the  war 


He  grave  me  a  hearty  welcome,  extending  his 
left  hand.  He  had  lost  his  right  arm  at  Will- 
iamsburg.  Not  having  any  pass  he  kindly 
wrote  one  for  me  while  sitting  in  his  saddle. 
We  had  not  much  time  for  conversation.  He 
hurriedly  gave  me  the  organization  of  the 
division. 

It  was  half-past  seven  in  the  morning  when 
Sumner  received  his  orders  from  McClellan  to 
cross  the  Antietam.  He  had  been  in  position  on 
the  eastern  banks  for  36  hours,  and  might  have 
opened  the  attack  before  sunset  on  the  15th, 
but  no  orders  had  come  to  him  Through  the 
morning  the  troops  had  heard  the  deafening 
Cannonade  and  rolls  of  musketry.  When  Sum- 
ner received  his  order  he  was  more  than  two 
miles  distant  from  the  battlefield.  The  troops 
had  made  the  march ;  had  met  stragglers 
and  ambulances  tilfed  with  wounded ;  they 
knew  that  Hooker  and  Mansfield  had  been 
repulsed  with  heavy  loss.  The  battle  thus 
far  has  gone  against  the  Union  troops.  Sumner 
forms  the  division  in  three  lines,  Gorman  in 
front,  then  Dana  and  then  Howard's  brigades. 
It  is  a  faulty  formation.  He  does  not  throw 
out  any  flankers  to  guard  him  from  a  side  at- 
tack, neither  does  he  send  a  line  of  skirmishers 
in  advance.  One  can  hardly  understand  how  a 
veteran  officer  could  have  I ormed  bis  trooos  in 
that  order.  Sumner  had  been  educated  as  a 
cavalry  commander  Cavalry  tactics  form 
bodies  in  the  mass  rather  than  in  deployed 
lines.  It  seems  probable  that  in  this  formation 
he  used  the  tactics  of  the  cavalry  instead  of  the 
infantry  Possibly  he  may  have  concluded  that 
French  s  division,  which  was  to  advance  on  his 
left,  would  protect  Sedgwicfc.  But  French  was 
a  mile  away  when  Sedgwick  advanced. 

The  troops  move  out  from  the  woods  into  the 
open  field.  Instantly  the  hill  behind  the  house 
of  Nicodemus  burst  into  flame  and  the  sheila 
explode  amid  the  advancing  lines.  The  Con- 
federate cannon  by  the  church  send  a  storm  of 
solid  shot  and  shells  into  the  faces  of  the  ad 
vaucing  troops.  But  on,  closing  the  gaps,  they 
advance  to  the  turnpike,  across  it  into  the 
woods,  up  to  the  church,  breasting  the  storm 
that  burst  upon  them  from  the  ledges  and  the 
rail  fence.  Sumner  does  not  mistrust  that  there 
are  ten  Confederate  brigades  concealed  in  the 
hollow  and  behind  the  fences  between  the 
church  and  old  Muma's  house,  east  of  the  turn- 
pike, ready  to  swing  upon  Sedgwick.  Gor 
man's  and  Dana's  brigades  have  crossed  the 
turnpike  and  Howard's  is  in  the  field  east  of  it, 
when  the  Confederates  rise  from  the  hollow, 
Sumner  is  talking  with  Colonel  Kimbail,  com 
manding  the  Fifteenth  Massachusetts,  when 
Major  Philbrick  of  that  regiment  shouts'  "  See! 
The  rebels."  Sumner  looks  in  the  direction  to 
which  Philbrick  points  and  exclaims:  "My  God  I 
We  must  pet  out  of  this."  He  directs  Howard 
to  change  front.  Howard  has  been  facing  west, 
but  must  bring  his  troops  to  face  the  southeast, 
The  reiriment  on  his  extreme  left,  the  Seventy- 
second  Pennsylvania,  is  the  first  to  feel  the 
blow.  An  overwhelming  force  is  advancing 
rapidly  Howard  has  not  time  to  form  a  new 


AHTIETAM. 


33 


tine.  His  men  are  thrown  Into  confusion, 
Less  than  thirty  minutes  have  passed  since  the 
division  advanced  across  the  field.  Instead  of 
continuing  the  battle,  there  is  but  one  thing  to 
be  done  and  that  is  to  retreat.  The  troops  can- 
not return  to  the  woods  from  which  they  have 
emerged,  but  are  compelled  to  retire  northward 
over  the  ground  where  Mansfield  and  Hooker 
have  fought,  toward  Miller's  and  Poffeubur 
srer's  houses.  The  struggle  is  brief,  but  the 
division  suffers  great  loss.  In  less  than  twenty 
minutes  more  than  2000  are  killed  or  wounded. 
The  Nineteenth  Massachusetts  went  into  action 
with  606  officers  and  men,  and  lost  343.  The 
Fifteenth  Massachusetts  faced  about  in  a  line 
perpendicular  to  the  Hagerstown  pike,  and 
fought  gallautlv  for  a  few  minutes  and 
held  the  Confederates  in  check.  Portions 
of  other  regiments  rallied  and  contested 
the  ground  valiantly.  But  overborne  and  out- 
numuered,  the  entire  command  moved  rapidly 
away.  As  soon  as  possible,  without  en  tanger- 
ing  tho  retreating  troops,  the  Union  batteries 
opened  fire  upon  the  Confederates,  who,  in  turn, 
were  driven  by  the  storm  of  canister  buried 
upon  them.  The  Confederate  commander.  Gen. 
Hood,  in  his  account  of  the  battle,  sai  I  that  the 
losses  of  the  Confe  lerates  were  very  great  in 
this  short  melee.  His  words  are .  "  Here  I  wit- 
nessed the  most  terrible  clash  of  arms,  by  far, 
that  has  occurred  during  the  war." 

In  my  next  letter  1  shall  give  an  account  of 
what  I  saw  of  the  battle  in  the  centre  and  on 
the  left. 

A  little  before  noon  General  McClellan  and 
staff  crossed  the  Autietam  and  rode  up  to  the 
woods  from  wnich  Sedgwick  had  advanced,  tie 
looked  over  the  field  toward  the  Danker 
Caurch.  examined  with  his  glass  the  Confed- 
erate position  a  few  moments,  ro  le  along  the 
lines  a  short  distance  and  returned  to  his  head- 
quarters. I  recall  the  advance  of  French's 
division  across  the  field  to  the  left  of  Sedgwick. 
It  was  advancing  with  brigade  front.  The  sun 
at  that  moment  burst  through  the  clouds  and 
was  reflected  from  gun  arrel  and  bayonet. 
There  was  a  light  breeze  from  the  southwest 
sufficient  to  display  the  flags  in  all  their  beauty. 
It  was  an  inspiring  spectacle.  And  yet  as  I  be- 
held it  I  experienced  a  feeling  of  sadness,  know- 
ing that  before  sundown  many  of  those  brave 
men  would  be  killed  or  wounded.  I  followed 
McClellan  back  to  his  headquarters  located  at 
a  large  farmhouse.  From  that  point  of 
view,  with  the  telescopes  belonging  to  the 
headquarters,  the  officers  of  his  staff  could  see 
the  battlefield  from  the  Bunker  Church,  south- 
war  a  to  Sharpsburg.  McClellan  was  sitting 
upon  the  piazza,  in  conversation  with  Fitz- 
John  Porter,  whose  corps  was  near  at  hand, 
numbering  12,000.  It  was  secreted  from  the 
enemy  by  a  hill.  Southward  the  cannon  of 
Bumside  were  thundering  to  dislodge  a  bri- 
gade of  Confederates  secreted  in  a  stone  quarry 
overlooking  the  bri  Ige  which  Burnside  de- 
sired to  use  in  crossing  the  Antietam.  After 
a  short  stay  at  the  headquarters  I  rode  forward 
toward  the  houses  of  Messrs.  Muma  and  Rulet. 
Tney  are  situated  on  the  west  bank  of  the 
Antietam,  near  the  centre  of  MoClellau's  line  of 


battle.  They  were  held  by  the  Confederate! 
Gen.  French  at  the  moment  was  preparing  to 
advance  toward  Muma's  house  on  the  right. 
Half  of  his  division  was  north  of  a  little  brook. 
which  winds  aown  from  the  hills,  the  other  half 
south  of  it.  He  had  three  brigades— Weber's. 
Kimball's  and  Morris's.  The  last  named  was 
composed  of  new  troops,  which  never  had  heard 
the  roar  of  battle  until  that  morning. 

i  he  hillside  on  the  right  suddenly  burst  into 
ttame,  the  Union  batteries  began  a  cannonade, 
under  cover  of  which  French  advanced.  The 
white  powder  clouds  floated  aown  the  ravine, 
and  swept  over  the  men.  It  was  beautiful  to 
see  through  its  rifts  the  Stars  and  stripes 
waving  in  the  sunlight.  From  the  hill  beyond 
Muma's  house  the  Confederate  artillery  opened 
fire,  a  portion  of  the  guns  replying  to  the  Union 
artillery,  and  another  portion  burling  shells 
upon  the  advancing  line.  A  short  distance 
from  Muma's  house  was  a  cemetery,  from  which 
came  puffs  of  smoke  from  muskets  tired  uy  men 
conceale  i  behind  the  white  marule  headstones. 
Oiner  sharpshooters  fired  from  the  win  lows. 
French's  skirmishers  crept  along  the  fences  and 
soon  drove  the  Confederates  from  the  cemetery 
and  the  house,  which  was  set  on  fireeitneroy 
the  departing  enemy  or  by  a  shell.  The  build- 
ings ourned  rapidly.  If  there  can  be 
grandeur  in  a  battle  scene,  the  scenery 
at  this  moment  formed  a  grand  picture, 
with  the  cannon  of  both  armies  naming, 
the  buildings  on  tire,  a  dark  pillar  of  cioud 
rising  heavenward,  10,000  men  advancing 
slowly  across  the  green  fields,  their  banners 
waving  and  bayonets  gleaming  in  the  sun- 
light Just  beyond  the  house  of  Mr.  Muma  is 
a  road  leading  from  the  Hagerstown  turnpike, 
near  the  church,  to  the  Boonsboro'  turnpike. 
It  is  spoken  of  now  as  the  "sunken"  road.  It 
formed  a  natural  rifle-pit  for  the  Confederate 
troops  under  D  H.  Hill.  Beyond  this 
way  was  a  corn  field,  in  which  Hill  sta- 
tioned his  second  line,  with  his  artillery 
planted  on  a  knoll  higher  up,  near  the  Hagers- 
town turnpike.  It  is  but  a  short  distance  south- 
ward from  Muma's  to  Kulet's  house.  Beyond 
the  latter  the  ground  rises  sharp  and  steep  for  a 
short  distance,  and  then  descends  slightly 
toward  the  sunken  road.  The  house  and  the 
large  barn  of  Mr.  Rulet,  with  the  peach  trees 
and  appie  orchard  immediately  behind  it,  wa» 
a  conspicuous  point.  French's  division  ex- 
tended to  these  uuildings.  Immediately  south 
of  it  Richardson's  division  was  in  line  preparing 
to  advance  up  the  steep  slope  upon  the  Confed- 
erates concealed  in  the  sunken  road 

The  line  of  advance  taken  by  French  led 
Wooer's  brigade  directly  against  the  smoking 
ruins  of  the  building ;  Kimball's  passed  between 
the  two  houses.  As  Weber's  troops  moved 
across  the  field  past  the  burial  ground  some  of 
the  skirmishers  paused  a  moment,  rested  their 
rifles  on  the  headstones  and  took  a  long  shot 
at  the  second  line  of  Confederates  in  the 
corn  field.  Kimball's  brigade  was  divided  by 
Rulet's  buildings,  but  after  passing  them 


34 


STORIES   OF    OUR   SOLDIERS. 


was  reunited  under  the  apple  trees.  Under 
Cover  of  a  vigorous  artillery  fire  the  troops 
broke  into  a  quicker  step  and  moved  up  the  hilL 
They  reached  the  crest  and  beheld  a  rail  tence 
between  them  aud  the  sunken  road.  The  next 
moment  thousands  of  men  seemed  to  rise  from 
the  ground.  There  came  a  flash  and  then  a 
rattle  oi  musketry,  but  instea  I  of  (mailing 
before  it  the  line  rushed  forward  up  to  the 
fence  and  fired  directly  in  the  faces 
of  the  Confederates,  many  of  whom  turned  to 
floe,  but  by  far  the  larger  part  were  shot  where 
they  stood.  Richardson  advanced  at  the  same 
moment  and  fire  i  into  the  faces  of  the  Confed- 
erates in  the  road.  The  lines  were  not  ten  paces 
apart.  Tue  front  dne  of  Confederates  was  nearly 
annihilated;  the  few  officers  and  men  who 
were  left  fled  to  the  corn  field  beyond. 
French's  men  tore  away  the  rails,  leaped  over 
the  lences.  and,  unmindful  of  the  dead  and 
dy  in.,',  rushed  upon  the  second  line  and  scat- 
tered it  in  an  instant.  They  had  broken  Lee's 
lines  at  its  centre.  It  was  a  moment  when  Mc- 
Clellan  shoul  i  have  hurled  Fitz  John  Porter's 
corps  into  the  contest  He  made  the  great  mis- 
take of  his  life  in  not  improving  the  grand  op- 
portunity. There  can  be  no  doubt  that  had  he 
done  so,  Lee's  army  would  nave  been  compelled 
to  surrender  or  driven  into  the  Potomac. 

In  this  brief  narrative  I  do  not  intend  to  de- 
tract anything  trom  what  was  accomplished  by 
Richardson,  whose  troops  advanced  in  the  same 
manner  and  scattered  tlie  Confederates  in  their 
front,  it  was  here  that  Ricnardson  received  a 
wound,  which  ultimately  proved  mortal.  I  had 
made  his  acquaintance  before  the  battle  of  Bull 
Run,  and  saw  him  as  he  was  borne  from  the 
field,  lie  was  fearless  in  battle,  and  had  the 
faculty  of  inspiring  his  men.  He  was  known  as 
an  admirable  tactician 


The  ground  toward  the  Boonesboro'  turnpike 
south  of  Kulet's  house  is  very  much  broken. 
There  are  numerous  hillocks,  ravines,  stone 
walls  and  fences.  Under  shelter  of  these  Long- 
street's  troops  advanced  to  attack  the  right 
flank  of  Cald  well's  brigade  in  a  cornfield  west 
of  the  sunken  road.  Longstreet  had  attacked 
French's  division  near  Rulet's  house  and 
had  failed.  Colonel  Cross,  commanding 
the  Fifth  New  Hampshire,  discovered 
the  Confederates  creeping  along  to  gain  a  hill 
in  the  rear  of  Caldwell.  Cross  instantly 
changed  his  front  and  put  his  men  upon  the 
double  quick  toward  the  hill.  It  was  an  excit- 
ing spectacle.  Union  and  Confederates  within 
close  musket  range,  both  lines  running,  both 
determined  to  gain  the  position.  Cross  cheered 
his  men  and  inspired  them  with  his 
own  tremendous  enthusiasm.  They  reached 
the  hill,  and  delivered  a  volley  which  checked 
the  advance  of  the  Confederates.  The  Eighty- 
first  Pennsylvania  came  to  the  aid  of  Cross, 
and  together  they  charged  upon  the  Con- 
federates, captured  a  large  numoer  of 
prisoners  and  the  colors  of  the  Fourth 
North  Carolina  Regiment  The  movement 
had  carried  the  line  almost  UP  to  the 
Hagerstowu  turnpike  and  compelled  Long- 
street  to  abandon  his  headquarters  at  Dr. 


Piper's  house.  It  was  about  1  o'clock;  Lee  had 
been  pushed  from  his  position  of  the  morning 
on  the  right  and  at  the  centre.  He  still  held  the 
ledges  in  the  woods  behind  the  church,  along 
the  turnpike  and  at  the  lower  bridge,  where 
Burnside  was  endeavoring  to  cross  the  Antietam. 

It  was  about  this  time  that  Franklin's  corps 
arrived  noon  the  field.  His  troops  had 
been  marching  all  the  morning  from  Cramp- 
ton's  Pass,  with  Smith's  division  in  advance, 
followed  by  Slocum's.  The  corps  crossed  the 
Antietam,  following  the  line  over  which  Sedg- 
wick  had  marched.  Hancock  had  just  been 
placed  in  command  of  Richardson's  division.  He 
sent  to  Franklin  for  help,  and  a  battery  and 
two  regiments,  one  of  whicn  was  the  Seventh  of 
Maine,  commanded  by  Major  Hyde,  were  sent 
to  him.  Hancock  rode  back  to  meet  them  and 
said:  "The  rebel  skirmishers  up  there 
on  that  hill  are  picking  off  our  gun- 
ners. I  want  them  driven  from  that  posi- 
tion." The  two  regiments  advanced,  fired 
a  volley  and  marched  on.  The  batteries  on 
the  hills  heyond  Dr.  Piper's  and  others  near  the 
church  opened  a  cross-fire  upon  them.  Al- 
though men  were  dropping,  the  regiment  came 
to  a  halt,  fired  a  volley,  and  then,  with  a  cheer, 
dashed  up  to  a  wall  which  sheltered  the  Con- 
federates, driving  them  back  to  the  main  line. 
Then,  marching  by  flank,  they  reached  the 
shelter  of  the  hill. 

vVhile  this  was  taking  place  south  of  Rulet's 
the  contest  was  raging  by  Muma's  house. 
French  had  been  compelled  alter  driving  the- 
Confederates  from  the  sunken  road  to  fall  back 
into  the  shelter  of  a  ravina  His  men  were  out 
of  ammunition.  It  was  at  this  moment  that  the 
remainder  of  Franklin's  troops  moved  across  the 
field  northeast  of  Muma's,  led  by  Irwin's 
brigade.  It  charged  noon  the  Confederates  and 
compelled  them  to  retreat  across  the  turnpike, 
but  it  received  an  enfilading  fire  and  was 
obliged  to  fall  back.  General  Franklin  was 
arranging  his  troops  for  an  assault, 
when  Sumner  said  that  he  did  not  think  it  ad- 
visable to  made  an  attack.  It  would  seem  that 
Sumner,  although  brave  and  energetic  at 
times,  fell  into  despondent  moods.  He  had 
suffered  great  loss  in  the  morning,  and  possi- 
bly may  have  felt  that  his  tactics 
were  faulty;  be  that  as  it  may.  Sedgwick  had 
been  driven  and  French  and  Richardson  were- 
exhausted.  There  was  a  consultation  between 
Sumner.  Franklin.  Smith,  Slocum  and  New- 
ton, and  also  General  Hunt,  command- 
ing the  artillery.  Franklin  wanted  to- 
bring  up  fifty  pieces  of  the  reserve  artillery 
and  rain  shell  upon  the  enemy  for  half  an. 
hour,  then  charge  with  two  divisions  and 
break  their  lines.  Smith.  Slocum  and 
Newton  agreed  with  him;  Sumner  alone  op- 
posed the  plan.  A  little  later  General  McClellan 
arrived  and  directed  the  commanders  to  hold 
their  positions  but  to  make  no  attack.  As  I 
rode  along  the  lines.  I  heard  the  soldiers  and 
the  line  officers  discussing  affairs.  There 
was  a  general  expression  that  McClellan 
was  making  a  mistake.  The  reserve 


\        -  f 


CARLETON    ON    THE    SKIRMISH    LINE. 


ANTIETAM    BRIDGE. 


ANTIETAM. 


artillery  was  close  at  band,  and  had  taken  no 
part  in  the  battle.  They  believed  that  under  a 
heavy  artillery  tire  they  could  break  the 
Confederate  line  at  the  centra  Riding 
once  more  toward  the  right  I  came  upon  Gen. 
Howard  and  was  talking  with  him,  when 
an  officer  dashed  up  and  said:  "The  rebels 
are  advancing  to  attack  us  from  the  woods 
by  the  church."  General  Howard  glanced 
across  the  field,  winch  had  been  trampled 
by  the  troops  of  Booker,  Mansfield  and  Seder- 
wick.  We  could  see  in  the  woods  and  among 
the  tasseled  corn  the  Confederate  line,  seem- 
ingly about  to  advance.  "  Let  them  have  the 
heaviest  fire  possible  from  the  batteries," 
said  Howard.  A  t>w  minutes  later  the 
thirty  cannon  on  the  ridgo  by  Pof- 
fenberger's  opened  a  terrific  fire,  and  the 
Confederate  line  quickly  disappeared.  It  was 
evident  that  the  fighting  for  the  day  was 
over  on  the  right  and  in  the  centre.  It  was 
at  this  moment  that  a  tremendous  cannonade 
opened  on  the  extreme  left.  I  could  not  go 
down  the  west  bank  of  the  Antietam, 
for  such  a  movement  would  have  taken  me 
into  the  Confederate  lines.  But  crossing  the 
lines  I  reached  McClellan's  headquarters,  saw 
once  more  the  troops  of  Fitz  John  Porter  where 
I  saw  them  in  the  morning,  and  then  rode  on  to 
learn  what  Burnside  was  doing. 

The  plan  of  McClellan  was  for  Burnside  to 
cross  the  Arilietam  by  a  stone  bridge  about  one 
mile  south  of  the  Boonesboro'  turnpike.  The 
banks  of  the  river  at  that  point  are  steep  and 
high.  The  road  leading  to  the  bridge  winds 
down  a  narrow  ravine.  The  bridge  has  three 
arches;  it  is  150  feet  long  and  the  roadway  12 
feet  wide.  The  western  bank  is  very  steep. 
Half-way  up  the  hill  is  a  limstone  quarry,  which 
gave  shelter  to  a  Confederate  origade. 
At  the  top  of  the  hill  is  a  stone  wall, 
which  also  afforde  1  shelter  to  the  Confeder- 
ates. They  had  planted  four  pieces  of  artillery 
to  sweep  the  bridge.  1  was  not  able  at  the  time 
of  the  battle,  nor  have  I  since  been  able,  to  un- 
derstand the  clan  of  McClellan  in  ordering 
Burnside  to  make  the  attack  at  that  point,  for 
the  river  was  fordable  in  many  places.  And 
Burnside  could  have  crossed  either  above  or  be- 
low the  bridge.  It  seems  that  McClellan  relied 
very  much  upon  Burnside,  but  that  officer 
did  not  receive  his  orders  until  past 
10  o'clock  in  the  morning.  At  that 
time.  Hooker.  Mansfield  and  Sedgwick  had  been 
repulsed-  His  orders  directed  him  to  carry  the 
bridge,  gain  the  height-)  beyond  and  advance 
alone  their  crests  to  Sharps  nurg  and  reach  the 
rear  of  Lea  He  had  less  than  14,000  men.  The 
task  laid  upon  him  was  immeasurably  greater 
and  more  difficult  than  that  assigned  to  any 
other  commander.  He  must  carry  the  bridge, 
drive  the  Confederates  from  the  hill  and  move 
over  an  open  field  to  attack  the  heights. 
The  troops  formed  on  the  farm  of  Mr. 
Rohrbach.  Eiurht  batteries,  numbering  forty- 
eight  cannon  opened  fire  upon  the  Confederates 
holding  the  hill  opposite  the  bridga  After  a 
terrific  cannona  ie  the  Eleventh  Connecticut, 
commanded  by  Colonel  Kinarsbury.  advanced  as 
skirmishers,  deploying  in  the  fields,  tiring  from 


tbe  fences.  Crook's  division  followed,  bat 
came  to  a  halt  and  opened  fire,  the 
soldiers  taking  aim  at  the  puffs  of  smoke  in 
the  stone  quarry.  Sturgis's  division  passed 
in  their  rear  and  reached  the  bridge. 
The  Second  Maryland  and  Sixth  New  Hamp- 
shire made  a  rush  across  it  Instantly  there 
were  !>road  sheets  of  flame  from  the  quarry  and 
from  the  wall  at  the  top  of  the  bilL  Tbe  head 
of  the  column  melted  in  an  instant.  The  troops 
fell  back  under  the  shelter  of  the  ridge.  This 
took  place  before  I  arrived  upon  the  scene.  An 
aide  came  from  McClellan  to  Burnside  with  a 
message  that  the  bridge  must  be  carried  at  all 
hazards.  Ferero's  brigade,  in  which  were  the 
Thirty-fifth  and  Twenty-first  Massacnusetts. 
advanced  to  make  a  second  assault.  The 
Eleventh  Connecticut  again  acted  as 
skirmishers.  The  troops  fixed  their  bayonets 
and  threw  aside  their  knapsacks.  The  Elev- 
enth Connecticut  dashed  down  to  the  river. 
Colonel  Kings  bury  fell,  mortally  wounded. 
Though  canister  swept  them  down,  those  be- 
hind rushed  on  up  to  the  bridge,  and  across  it, 
men  pitching  headlong  from  the  parapet  into 
the  water,  shells  exploding  among  them,  but 
with  a  wild  yell  they  reached  the  shelter  of  the 
western  bank,  reformed  and  moved  UP  the  road. 
gaining  the  flank  of  the  Confederates  and 
driving  them  from  the  quarry  and  the  wall. 
General  Toomb  •  of  Georgia  was  in  command  of 
the  Confederates  at  that  point.  Before  the  war 
he  had  boasted  in  Congress  that  the  time  would 
come  when  he  would  call  the  roll  of  his  slaves 
on  Bunker  Hill,  but  at  this  moment  he  was 
retreating  to  the  high  land  near  Sharpsburgr. 
Some  of  the  troops  crossed  the  stream  at  the 
bridge,  and  a  portion  at  one  of  the  fonis,  where 
the  whole  14,000  might  have  crossed  with  far 
less  loss  of  life  than  at  the  bridge.  McClellan 
made  no  attempt  to  cross  the  Antietam  on  the 
Boonesooro'  turnpike.  The  bridge  there  was 
commanded  by  Longstreet's  cannon  planted  ou 
the  hills  east  of  the  town.  McClellan  retained 
Porter's  corps  on  the  east  bank  of  the  river, 
fearing  that  Lee  might  throw  forward  his  cen- 
tre and  divide  the  Union  army.  McClellan  had 
sreatly  overestimated  Lee's  force.  He  believed 
he  was  confronted  by  more  than  100,000  Con. 
federates,  when  in  fact  Lee  had  less  than  60,000- 

I  stood  on  the  hill  by  the  bridge  and  saw  th» 
close  of  the  battle  in  the  fields  southeast  of 
Sharps  urg.  It  was  very  evi  lent  that  Lee  was 
weakening  his  left  flank  by  the  Dunker  Church 
and  hurrying  his  troops  to  resist  Burnside.  It 
was  fully  3  o'clock  before  Bumside  was  in  posi- 
tion to  advance.  His  troops  moved  quickly  to 
the  attack  and  drove  the  first  line  of  the 
Confederates.  As  the  troops  came  into  tno 
open  field  a  destructive  storm  of  shells 
was  hurled  upon  them.  They  reached  a 
fence,  but  could  go  no  farther.  Burnside  sent 
a  message  to  McClellan  that  he  must  have  more 
troops,  otherwise  he  could  not  hold  his  posi- 
tion. McClellan  replied  that  he  would  send 
him  a  battery,  but  had  no  infantry  to  spare.  He 
must  hold  his  ground  till  dark ;  and  then,  if  he 
could  not  remain,  he  might  fall  back  to  tho 


STORIES  OF   OUR   SOLDIERS. 


bridge,  but  be  most  hold  that  or  all  would  be 
lost. 

I  cannot  go  over  the  features  of  the  battle  of 
Antietam  with  much  complacency  toward  Mc- 
Clellan. Porter  had  12,000  men,  Slocum's 
division  of  Franklin's  cores  numbered  6000. 
Smith's  division  had  only  made  one  gallant 
charge;  his  troops  were  not  in  any  sense  ex- 
hausted. McClellan  had  at  that  moment  from 
20,000  to  26,000  men  and  100  guns  which  had 
taken  no  part  in  the  battle.  Burnside 
had  all  but  turned  the  right  flank 
of  Lee.  Wilcox's  division  was  almost 
up  to  bharpsbnrg.  There  was  evident  commo- 
tion in  Lee's  lines.  I  could  see  officers  going 
witL  their  horses  upon  the  run.  The  time  had 
come  for  McClellan  to  throw  in  all  his  available 
force  to  aid  Burnside.  Although  the  troops 
upon  the  right  had  fought  in  the  morniuar  they 
were  in  condition  to  make  a  clemonstrati9n  to 
retain  the  Confederate  troops  in  the  vicinity  of 
Dunker  Church.  Nothing  was  done.  McClel- 
lan could  send  only  one  battery  to  help  Burn- 
ride. 


It  was  a  magnificent  spectacle  just  before  sun- 
set— the  hillsides  all  aflame  with  cannon  and 
the  long  lines  of  light  flashing  from  the  troops 
of  the  two  armies  in  the  field  southeast  01  the 
town.  But  gradually  the  thunder  died  away 
and  silence  came  on,  broken  only  by  an  occa- 
sional volley  and  single  shots  like  the  last  drops 
after  a  shower. 

The  army  confidently  expected  a  renewal 
of  the  battle  on  the  next  day.  During 
the  night  two  divisions,  under  Gen, 
Couch,  had  arrived,  giving  McClellan 
85,000  fresh  troops.  He  decided  not  to  renew 
the  attack,  for  the  reason  that  if  he  were  de- 
feated Lee  could  march  on  to  Washington  or 
Baltimore  without  an  enemy  to  oppose  him! 
Besides,  he  expected  14,000  more  men.  One 
•can  hardly  un  erstand  the  state  of  mind  that 
led  him  to  such  a  conclusion.  He  could 
see  from  the  prisoners  captured, 
many  of  them  being  barefoot,  and 
their  clothes  in  rags,  that  Lee 
was  in  no  condition  to  make  an  offensive  move 
ment  He  knew  that  Lee  was  short  of  supplies; 
that  the  Confederates  had  been  living  largely 
on  green  corn ;  that  Lee  was  far  from  his  base 
of  supplies;  that  ne  had  no  reinforcements  at 
hand ;  that  his  troops  were  exhausted ;  that  he 
must  be  short  of  ammunition ;  that  he  had  suf- 
fered severely  in  battle;  that  in  a  retreat  Lee 
must  cross  the  Potomac ;  but  these  considera- 
tions seemingly  had  no  weight  with  McClellan. 


Early  in  the  morning  l  rode  to  the  right  and 
•Conversed  with  the  troops,  which  were  in  posi- 
tion aad  expecting  orders.  Rations  had  Deen 
served  and  everybody  seemed  cheerful  CoL 
Andrews  of  the  Massachusetts  Second  was 
commanding  a  brigade  in  the  Twelfth  Corpa  I 
asked  him  how  his  men  were:  "All  right 
They  had  a  pretty  hard  time  yesterday,  but 


having  had  a  good  breakfast  they  feel  well, 
was  the  reply. 

A  flag  of  truce  was  displayed  by  the  Confed- 
erates. Lee  desired  that  the  wounded  should 
be  cared  for  on  the  score  of  humanity.  Ih* 
truce  lasted  till  1  o'clock.  During  the  after- 
noon 1  rode  to  the  summit  of  Elk  Ridge,  a  lofty 
elevation  on  the  east  bank  of  the  Antietam, 
overlooking  the  battlefield.  Beyond  Sharps- 
burg  a  cloud  of  dust  filled  the  air,  and  baggage 
wagons  were  moving  west.  I  thought  it  in- 
dicated retreat  on  the  part  of  Lee.  The  day  closed 
without  any  movement  on  the  part  of  ucClel  Ian. 
The  morning  of  the  19th  dawned  and  Lee  was 
gone  with  all  his  artillery,  except  one  iron  gun 
and  some  broken  down  wagons.  1  ro.le  over  the 
field  and  saw  many  of  the  Confederate  dead. 
In  the  field  near  the  Dunker  Church  1  came 
unon  a  Union  soldier  lying  upon  his  »ack.  the 
ground  around  stained  with  his  blood.  In 
was  a  pleasant  smile  on  his  face.  His  Bible  was 
open  upon  bis  breast.  Taking  it  UP  I  read :  Ihe 
Lord  is  my  shepherd;  1  shall  not  want  He 
maketh  me  to  lie  down  in  green  pastures;  tie 
leadeth  me  beside  the  still  waters.  Yea,  though 
I  walk  through  the  valley  of  the  shadow  01 
death.  1  will  fear  no  evil,  for  Thou  art  with  me; 
Thy  rod  and  Thy  staff  they  comfort  me. 

The  slaughter  had  been  terrible  in  the  sunken 
road.  I  could  have  walked  a  long  distance 
upon  the  bodies  of  dead  Confederates,  borne  ol 
them  were  shot  dead  while  climbing  the  fence, 
and  their  bodies  were  banging  on  the  rails.  One 
had  been  killed  while  tearing  his  cartridge  with 
his  teeth.  He  had  died  instantly  and  tne  carV 
ridge  was  in  his  hand.  An  officer  was  still 
grasping  his  sword.  He  had  fallen  white 
cheering  his  men  with  all  his  muscles  set 
his  nerves  under  tension,  the  word  ol 
command  on  his  lips.  It  was  as  if  »  m«j»7 
mower  had  swept  them  down  at  a  single  stroke 
Riding  up  to  the  turnpike  a  short  distanoa 
south  of  the  Dunker  Church  I  saw  a  dead  Con- 
federate hanging  across  the  limb  of  a  cherry 
tree  by  the  roadside.  He  ha  I  been  a  .sharp- 
shooter and  had  taken  the  position  to  pick  off 
Union  officers,  but  himself  had  been  snot  J 
afterward  learned  that  several  Union  soldiers 
had  seen  puffs  of  smoke  amid  the  foliage  of 
the  tree  and  had  given  return  shots,  on* 
of  which  had  taken  effect  Riding  down 
to  Sharpsburg  1  found  a  large  number  of  (on- 
federate  wounded.  I  conversed  with  an  ottcer 
of  Gen.  Walker's  division.  He  said:  I  hare 
been  in  all  the  battles  before  Richmond  and  at 
Manassas,  but  I  never  experienced  such  a  nre  a» 
you  gave  us  vesterday.  The  slaughter  at  the 
sunken  road  was  terrible.  We  couldn't  keep 
our  ranks  closed,  and  if  your  troops  had  pressed 
on  they  might  have  broken  through  our  line. 
We  were  all  tired  out  We  got  up  from  Har- 
per's Ferry  on  the  morning  of  the  bat- 
tle: had  no  supper  Tuesday:  marched  all 
night,  had  no  breakfast  and  went  right  into 
the  tight  as  soon  as  we  reached  the  neld.  We 
bad  lived  on  green  corn  and  apples  half  the 
time  since  we  left  Richmond.  Half  our  troops 
were  barefoot;  we  were  in  no  condition  to  light 


A  CAVALRY  CHARGE. 


My  note  book  opens  to  October  anrl  Novem- 
ber, 1862.  I  think  I  never  saw  a  more  lovely 
autumn.  The  days  were  bright  and  beautiful. 
Witn  the  exception  of  one  or  two  light  rains 
scarcely  a  cloud  was  seen  in  the  sky.  Six  weeks 
had  gone  by  since  the  battle  of  Antietam.  The 
army  of  the  Potomac  was  in  Maryland  in  the 
vicinity  of  Harper's  Ferry.  Gen.  McClellan's 
headquarters  were  in  Pleasant  Valley.  At 
Antietam  he  had  made  the  mistake  of  his  life 
in  not  following  up  his  advantage.  The  Con- 
federate army  was  at  Winchester,  in  the  valley 
of  the  Shenandoah,  with  the  exception  of  the 
cavalry,  which  was  east  of  the  Blue  Ridge.  The 
Confederate  General.  Stuart,  with  1800  men 
bad  made  a  notable  ride  around  McClellan, 
had  destroyed  a  large  amount  of  supplies 
at  Chambersburg,  seized  hundreds  of  horses 
and  rftcros.se  I  the  Potomac  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Monocacy.  Stuart  was  justly  proud  of  his 
achievement  There  can  be  no  question  that 
McClellan  was  greatly  chagrined.  Up  to  that 
time  the  Confederate  cavalry  had  accomplished 
more  than  the  Union  cavalry.  McClellan  had 
employed  this  arm  of  the  service  in  scouting. 
The  regiments  had  been  scattered  here  and 
there  and  never  had  acted  as  a  unit  Doubtless 
McClellan  saw  that  he  had  made  a  mistake,  for 
the  regiments  were  now  brigaded.  Gen. 
Pli'Msanton,  Stoneman  and  Averill  were  ap- 
pointed commanders. 

On  the  26th  of  October  pontoons  were  laid 
across  the  Potomac,  and  the  army  of  100,000 
men.  preceded  by  the  cavalry,  began  to  cross 
(he  river. 

I  open  my  note  book  to  Nov.  1.  Hearing  the 
found  of  cannon,  I  mounted  mv  horse,  crossed 
tile  river  and  rode  rapidly  southward  past  the 


moving  column.  I  noticed  many  of  the  soldiers 
had  their  pets,  one  a  little  dog  which  he  had 
picked  up  on  the  way.  As  1  passed  a  Pennsyl- 
vania regiment  I  noticed  a  gray-bearded  soldier 
who  had  a  young  puppy,  its  eyes  not  yet  open,  A 
little  boy  in  a  Connecticut  regiment  had  a  little 
kitten  on  his  shoulder.  I  passed  through  th« 
little  village  of  Purcellville  and  came 
upon  the  Tenth  and  Eleventh  New 
Hampshire  regiments.  No  correspond- 
ent ever  had  a  heartier  welcome 
that  I  had  from  Col.  Donohoe  of  the  Tenth  and 
Col.  Harriman  of  the  Eleventh.  It  is  a  pleasure 
to  know  that  the  first  named  is  still  hale  and 
vigorous;  that  he  was  able  to  act  as  Chief  Mav- 
shal  in  the  late  Columbian  parade  in  this  city. 
Col.  Harriman,  several  years  ago,  joined  the 
great  majority.  I  shall  have  occasion  to  sneak 
of  him  in  another  letter.  A  little  farther  on  I 
came  upon  the  Twenty-first  Massachusetts.  It 
had  seen  service  under  Burnside  in  North  Ca»» 
Una,  and  uad  dwindled  to  about  200.  It  was 
but  a  shadow  of  its  former  sell  Ri  ling  on  I 
came  upon  Gen.  Pleasanton's  command  near 
the  village  of  Philemont.  The  cavalry  of  the 
two  armies  had  come  in  contact  the 
previous  day.  There  had  been  skinnisn- 
ing,  in  which  there  was  a  small  loss 
on  both  sides.  It  was  past  noon  when  I 
reached  the  field.  In  the  foreground  the  ar- 
tillery was  sending  shells  across  the  field  upon 
Stuart's  line.  Shells  from  Stuart's  guns  were 
screaming  through  the  air.  Under  the  white 
battle  cloud  in  the  distance  I  could  see  the  Con- 
federates. A  well-directed  shot  from  one  of 
the  Union  guns  struck  A  Confederate  caisson, 
and  the  battle  cloud  suddenly  assumed  larger 
proportions.  UP  to  tbis  time  I  had  not  seen  a 
cavalry  charge,  and  the  one  which  I  am  about 


40 


STORIES    OF    OUR    SOLDIERS. 


to  describe  was  a  very  insignificant  affair  in 
comparison  with  what  I  afterward  saw.  I  think 
it  was  the  Eighth  New  York  Regiment  which 
made  the  movement.  Imagine,  if  yon  can,  a 
body  of  horses  in  column,  not  in  line.  A 
column  is  cencentrated  energy.  Those  in  froiit 
are  stimulated  by  those  behind ;  and  those  be- 
hind are  eager  to  emulate  those  in  advance. 
Yon  hear  the  word  of  command: 

"Draw  sabrel" 

"Charge!" 

You  hear  the  bugle  and  are  thrilled  by  its 
notes.  The  column  breaks  into  a  trot.  The 
hoofs  of  the  horses  are  like  the  distant  rumbling 
of  thunder.  The  trot  becomes  a  gallop,  and 
loader  than  the  trampling  of  hoofs  is  the  yell- 
ing of  500  men.  It  is  not  a  hurrah,  but  a  pro- 
longed yell,  The  horses  seem  to  catch  the  en- 
thusiasm of  the  men.  A  dust  cloud  rises. 
Sabres  flash  and  gleam  in  the  sunlight.  Can- 
non flame.  Horses  and  riders  go  down,  but  the 
column  goes  on.  The  Confederate  cannoniers 
suddenly  limber  up  their  pieces  and  disappear 
In  the  woods  beyond. 

I  felt  the  blood  tingle  to  the  tips  of  my  fingers 
as  I  gazed  upon  the  scene.  At  no  previous  time 
during  the  war  had  I  BO  longed  to  be  in  battle. 
My  horse  seemed  to  catch  the  enthusiasm. 
There  is  that  in  a  cavalry  charge  which  seems 
to  transform  a  man  into  something  more  than  a 
human  being  and  a  horse  into  something  more 
than  an  animal  I  have  sometimes  wondered  if 
after  all,  the  fabled  centaur  was  not  in  reality 
half  man  and  half  horse.  True,  thin  was  a  small 
affair  at  Philemom.  but  it  was  my  first  lively  ex- 
perience with  the  cavalry.  The  loss  in  killed 
and  wounded  on  the  Union  side  was  leas  than 
100-  During  the  engagement  Doubleday's  Di- 
vision of  Infantry  arrived.  It  was  nearly  dark 
when  the  Confederates  abandoned  their  posi- 
tion and  retreated  toward  Upperville. 

Soon  after  sunrise  the  next  morning  again  I 
heard  the  sound  of  cannon.  Stuart  was  retreat- 
ing toward  Ashby's  Gap.  in  the  Blue  Ridge. 
Following  the  cavalry  I  rode  through  the  Gap 
and  had  a  view  of  the  valley  of  the  Shenaudoah. 
The  First  Massachusetts  Cavalry  had  followed 
the  Confederates.  While  sitting  on  my  horse, 
and  looking  clown  toward  the  Shenancloan,  I 
could  see  puffs  of  white  smoke  from  Confeder- 
ate cannon,  and  then  came  a  rattle  of  musketry. 
A  few  moments  later  I  beheld  he  lifeless  body  of 
Oapt  M.  C.  Pratt  lying  across  his  horse.  Ten 
minutes  before  he  had  been  in  the  full  rigor  of 
life,  leading  his  men ;  now  tnere  was  only  the 


limp  and  lifeless  form.  He  had  been  shot 
through  the  heart.  He  was  from  Holyoke  and 
had  shown  excellent  ability  as  an  officer. 

The  advance  of  the  army  was  sharply  con- 
tested by  the  Confederate  cavalry  all  the  way 
down  to  Warrenton.  It  was  the  intention  of 
Stuart  to  delay  McClellan  as  much  as  possible 
till  Lee  could  make  his  way  across  the  Blue 
Ridge.  On  the  6th  of  November  there  was  an« 
other  very  sharp  engagement  at  Barbee's  Cross 
Roads.  Stuart  took  a  stand  on  a  hill  with  his 
artillery  and  sharpshooters.  It  was  about  9 
o'clock  when  the  engagement  began,  which 
lasted  till  past  noon.  The  opposing  lorces  were 
not  in  compact  bodies,  and  the  engagement  ex- 
tended over  quite  a  large  section  of  country.  I 
could  only  see  one  phase  of  it,  where,  again, 
there  was  a  charge  resulting  in  the  driv- 
ing of  the  enemy,  who  left  their  dead  upon  the 
field,  with  a  large  number  of  their  wounded.  I 
recall  a  Confederate  officer  belonging  to  a  Vir- 
ginia regiment,  with  his  leg  badly  shattered  by 
a  shell  Tne  Union  surgeon  amputated  the 
limb  and  committed  him  to  the  care  of  a  lady 
who  was  in  sympathy  with  the  South.  During 
these  engagements  the  Union  cavalry  began  to 
manifest  a  superiority  over  the  Confederates, 
which  was  maintained  from  that  hour  to  the 
close  of  the  war.  UP  to  that  time  there  had 
been  mild  days,  but  a  snow  then  came 
on.  The  soldiers  suffered  exceedingly. 
Gen.  McClellen  had  issued  strict  orders  that 
no  depredation  of  any  kind  should  be 
permitted  upon  the  property  of  citizens.  The 
soldiers  were  not  even  allowed  to  take  a  fence 
rail  to  kindle  their  bivouac  fires,  but  necessity 
compelled  them  to  disobey  the  order.  Neither 
were  they  allowed  to  take  any  provision. 

I  recall  a  laughable  incident  near  Upperville. 
In  the  edge  of  the  evening  I  rode  up  to  a  farm- 
house to  see  if  I  could  obtain  accommodation  for 
the  nignt.  As  I  approached  the  house  I  saw 
several  colored  boys  driving  a  flock  of  sheep. 
Soldiers  of  the  Ififth  New  Hampshire  Regiment, 
which  was  in  bivouac  near  by,  joined  them. 

"  Getting  up  your  sheep,  are  ye?" 

"Yes,  boss." 

"Well,  we'll  help  you." 

They  yelled  at  the  sheep,  which,  instead  of 
moving  quietly  on  toward  the  barnyard,  the 
next  moment  were  running  belter  skelter  ovei 
the  field.  There  was  much  running  and  shout- 
ing but  the  sheep  did  not  enter  the  barnyard. 
The  next  morning  I  saw  the  ground  in  the 
Vicinity  of  a  Pennsylvania  regiment  thickly 


A    CAVALRY    CHARGE. 


43 


covered  with  pelt*  I  visited  Col.  Cross,  com- 
manding the  Fifth  New  Hampshire.  He  had 
seen  service  in  Mexico  and  was  a  very  brave 
and  able  commander,  and  had  rendered  dis- 
tinguished service  at  Antietam.  While  talk- 
ing with  him  the  farmer,  with  whom  I  had 
passed  the  niarht,  made  his  appearance,  saying 
that  his  sheep  ha  1  been  killed  anu  he  had  re- 
ceived permission  from  the  commander  of  the 
brigade  to  go  through  the  camp,  to  find  out 
who  had  taken  his  mutton 

"Well,  sir."  said  Col.  Cross,  "you  can't  go 
through  my  regiment.  My  soidlers  are  honest 
men.  To  allow  you  to  do  so  would  be  an  impu- 
tation upon  their  honesty.  They  come  from  the 
State  of  New  Hampshire-  It  is  a  State  which 
produces  honest  men  and  great  men ;  the  State 
of  Daniel  Webster  and  President  Pierce.  No, 
sir.  you  cannot  go  through  my  regiment." 

The  gentleman  departed,  but  soon  returned 
accompanied  by  Gen.  Gorman,  who  com- 
manded the  brigade.  The  gentleman  appealed 
to  me,  and  asked  if  I  had  not  seen  the  sheep  the 
previous  evening  near  his  house.  I  replied  that 
I  had.  whereupon  Gen.  Gorman  directed  Quar- 
termaster Batchelder  to  make  out  a  receipt  for 
seventy  sheep,  which  were  to  be  accounted  for 
by  the  United  States,  provided  the  owner  proved 
his  loyalty  to  the  Union.  Quartermaster  Batch 
elder  is  at  present  the  Chief  Quartermaster  of 
the  United  States  Army  Just  before  noon  a 
delicious  odor  of  roast  mutton  pervaded  the 
camp  of  the  Fifth  New  Hampshire,  and  I 
enjoyed  a  toothsomenneal  of  roast  mutton  with 
Col.  Cross.  The  zest  of  the  incident  was  the 
reprimand  and  punishment  meted  to  a  Penn- 
sylvania regiment  in  whose  encampment  the 
pelts  had  been  found.  Killing  the  sheep  was  an 
unwarranted  act.  The  soldiers  were  not  suffer- 
ing ior  the  want  of  food ,  they  had  an  abundant 
supply  But  it  WM  a  significant  act;  it  was  the 
beginning  of  a  revolt  against  Gen.  Mo- 
Clellan's  stringent  orders,  that  no  harm 
should  be  done  to  the  property  of  in- 
dividuals even  though  they  might  be 
Secessionists  and  in  the  Confederate  army.  On 
the  Peninsula  guards  had  protected  the  prop- 
erty of  those  who  were  in  arms  against  the 
Government.  In  one  of  the  battles  before  Rich- 
mond the  surgeons  were  not  allowed  to  set  up 
their  hospital  tents  in  a  grove  near  a  house 
owned  by  a  Confederate  officer,  but  were  com. 
polled  to  take  an  open  neld  in  the  glare  of  the 
sun  The  soldiers  were  becoming  restless  un 
der  an  order  which  forbade  them  from  taking 
a  fence  rail  for  their  bivouac  tira 


On  the  evening  of  November  6  a  messenger 
arrived  from  Washington  with  an  order  reliev- 
ing McClellan  and  appointing  Burnsida  as  his 
successor  It  was  a  dramatic  scene  when  Mc- 
Cleiiantook  his  departure.  He  rode  along  the 
lines,  and  was  received  with  great  enthusiasm 
by  some  of  the  troops  and  with  indifference  by 
others.  Many  who  had  been  enthusiastic 
in  his  praise  before  the  battle  of  Antietam  had 
lost  their  faith  in  him  as  an  aggressive  com- 
mander. A  collation  was  spread  (or  him  by 
some  of  his  admirers.  It  was  a  sombre  occasion. 
Fitz  John  Porter  could  not  conceal  his  emotion. 
Quito  likely  he  was  apprehensive  that  he.  too. 
would  be  relieved  of  his  command,  to  answer 
charges  preferred  by  Gen.  Pope  for  misconduct 
at  Manassas.  He  was  relieved  a  few  days  later. 

The  Twenty-second  Massachusetts  Regiment 
was  in  Martindale's  brigade,  Porter's  corps.  It 
was  a  regiment  raised  by  Senator  Henry  Wil- 
son, who  came  out  from  Washington  to  visit 
"  his  boys,"  as  he  called  them.  In  this  connec- 
tion memory  goes  back  to  the  week  following 
the  first  battle  of  Bull  Run.  1861.  I  was  con- 
versing with  Senator  Wilson  at  that  time 
in  regard  to  the  prospects  of  the  coun 
try.  He  said  it  was  a  time  when  every 
man  must  show  his  colors  He  said  that 
be  intended  to  go  to  Massachusetts  and 
raise  a  regiment.  It  is  a  matter  of  history  that 
between  that  moment  and  Oct.  8,  about  nine 
weeks,  tne  regiment  was  raised,  equipped  and 
on  its  way  to  Washington.  I  was  warmly  wel- 
comed by  the  officers  and  soldiers.  1  had  seen 
them  at  Antietam  standing  all  day  long  waitinz 
for  orders  to  go  into  the  battle.  Many  of  them 
chafed  as  they  saw  French's  and  Richardson's 
divisions  break  the  Confederate  line  and  were 
not  themselves  permitted  to  take  part  at  a 
moment  when,  had  they  been  ordered  in, 
Lee's  army  would  have  been  divided  at  the  cen- 
tre. Sitting  down  with  the  soldiers,  they  told 
of  their  experiences  in  the  Seven  Days'  battles 
in  front  of  Richmond,  especially  the  battle  at 
Gaines's  Mills,  where  their  beloved  Colonel 
Jesse  A.  Gove,  was  killed.  A  few  months  ago  I 
went  over  the  ground  near  the  farmhouse  of 
Mr  Watts,  where  Col.  Gove  fell.  It  was  my 
pleasure  to  make  his  acquaintance  about 
1850.  in  Concord,  N.  H.  Probably  some 
of  the  elderly  citizens  of  that  city, 
who  may  •  read  this  article,  wiil  recall 
him  as  a  Deputy  Secretary  of  State  from  1850- 
65.  He  was  a  native  of  Weare  in  that  State, 
and  it  may  be  that  some  citizens  ol  that  town 


44 


STOHIES    OF    OUR    SOLDIERS. 


may  remember  him  as  a  member  of  the  South 
Weare  Band  about  1836-37.  He  played  the 
clarionet.  He  was  educated  at  the  Military 
Academy.  Norwich.  Vermont  then  under  the 
direction  of  Col.  Ransom,  who  commanded  a 
brigade  in  the  Mexican  War.  Col.  Gove 
was  at  that  time  a  Lieutenant  and  served 
under  him.  At  the  conclusion  of  that  war  he 
entered  the  office  of  Pierce  &  Minot 
in  Concord  as  a  student  at  law.  I  often  saw 
him.  and  greatly  admired  his  gentlemanly  de- 
portment ami  his  acquirements.  He  was  an  ex- 
cellent botanist  and  mineralogist  I  presume  it 
was  through  the  influence  of  ex-President 
Pierce  that  he  was  appointed  Captain  in  the 
Tenth  United  States  Infantry  about  1857.  At 
the  outbreak  of  the  war  he  was  in  Utah,  but 
returned  East,  and  was  selected  by  Senator 
Wilson  to  take  command  of  his  regiment  He 
was  an  admirable  disciplinarian. 

I  doubt  not  some  of  the  veterans  of 
the  regiment  will  remember  June  27. 
1862,  when  they  stood  in  line  of  battle  a 
abort  distance  north  of  the  house  of  Mr.  Watts, 
near  Gaines's  Mills.  It  was  a  hot,  sultry  day 
They  will  remember  that  a  little  past  noon 
shells  from  Confederate  cannon  came  crashing 
through  the  woods.  It  was  a  little  past  3  o'clock 
before  the  Confederates  advanced.  The  vet- 
erans will  remember  that  General  Porter's 
headquarters  were  beneath  the  trees  surround- 
ing Mr.  Watts's  house.  He  had  thirty  thousand 
men  against  nearly  70.000  Confederates.  He 
was  to  hold  the  line  while  McClellan  was  mak- 
ing preparations  for  a  retreat  to  James  River. 
The  yeterans  will  remember  bow  the  first  crash 
of  musketry  in  the  battle  was  from  Martindale's 
and  Butterfield's  and  Griffin's  Brigades  noon 
Longstreet's.  A.  P  Hill's  and  Whiting's  Divi 
sionsof  Confederates,  which  were  advancing 
through  the  woods.  It  was  just  after  the  battle 
commenced  that  CoL  Gove  dismounted  and 
called  upon  a  young  bugler  to  hold  his 
horse.  I  think  his  name  was  Houghton 
He  was  but  a  boy.  The  soldiers  called  him 
'"Monkey."  Though  young  in  years  he  was 
very  brave.  In  the  retreat  from  Mechanicsville 
he  had  assisted  a  disabled  soldier  by  carrying 
his  gun.  He  had  the  gun  in  his  hand  when  CoL 
Gove  directed  him  to  hold  his  horse  and  find 
Aelter  behind  a  tree.  The  next  instant  there 
came  a  volley,  the  boy  was  wounded,  a  large 
number  of  the  men  killed,  and  among  them 


CoL  Gove.  Though  the  regiment  had  lost  their 
able  commander  it  maintained  its  ground  till 
nearly  one-half  were  killed  or  wounded.  The 
discipline  of  the  fallen  commander  was  mani- 
fest in  this  battle.  Had  he  lived,  doubtless  he 
would  have  attained  a  Major  Generalship. 

The  soldiers  of  the  Twenty-second  looked  up 
to  Senator  Wilson  with  reverence  and  affection. 
He  shook  hands  with  them,  talked  with  them, 
learned  their  wants,  gave  them  words  of  en- 
couragement He  had  been  a  volunteer  aide  on 
McClellan's  staff.  He  was  Chairman  of  the  Mil- 
itary Committee  of  the  Senate.  Many  of  the 
officers  in  the  army  were  indebted  to  him  for 
their  promotion.  He  was  everywhere  received 
with  honor.  Knowing  there  could 
be  no  movement  for  several  days. 
I  accompanied  the  Senator  to  Wash- 
ington. Before  leaving  I  paid  my  respects  to 
Gen.  Burnside  and  his  chief  of  staff.  Gen. 
Parke.  both  of  whom  received  me  very  court- 
eously. Burnside  was  very  sober.  A  great  re- 
sponsibility had  been  forced  upon  him.  The 
Manassas  Gap  Railroad  had  just  been  opened. 
I  think  only  one  or  two  trains  had  passed  over 
it  There  were  only  freight  cars.  It  was  nearly 
dark  when  we  climbed  into  a  freight  car  with 
some  empty  cracker  boxes,  which  we  were  to 
ose  for  seats.  We  found  one  occupant  in  the 
car.  Dr.  Mary  Walker.  She  was  an  aggressive 
woman,  who  went  where  she  pleased  regardless 
of  Provost  Marshals  She  was  dressed  in  her 
peculiar  costume,  trousers  and  jacket  She 
flitted  here  and  there  throughout  the  army  hos- 
pitals, in  Washington  and  at  the  front.  Not 
only  during  the  war.  but  since  then  she  has 
kept  herself  at  times  in  the  public  eye.  I  was  in 
Paris  in  1867.  at  a  Fourth  of  July  dinnei  in 
the  Grand  Hotel,  where  she  ma  le  herself  con 
spicuous  by  appearing  in  a  costume,  made  from 
the  Stars  and  Stripes.  The  train  made 
its  way  slowly  over  the  uneven  track 
at  six  or  seven  miles  an  hour.  Dur- 
ing the  ride  Senator  Wilson  gave  an 
account  of  the  raising  of  his  regiment  and 
talked  tenderly  of  CoL  Gove  and  of  his  regi 
ment  '*They  are  my  boys."  he  said.  "  I  love 
them.  There  are  not  many  of  them  left  It  is 
terrible  to  think  how  many  of  them  have  been 
killed  and  how  many  more  must  be  before 
slavery  is  swept  from  the  land,  and  the  country 
redeemed  from  its  curse."  From  the  beginning 
he  had  seen,  better  than  most  men.  the  magni- 
tude of  the  conflict. 


THE  GROSSING  AT  FREDERICKSBURG. 


Thirty  years  ago  this  first  week  of  December 
the  Stafford  hills,  opposite  Fredericksburg, 
were  white  with  the  tents  of  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac.  At  night  the  fields  where  George 
Washington  passed  his  youthful  years  were 
gleaming  with  thousands  of  bivouac  fires. 
The  army  was  waiting  for  orders  to  move. 
It  ia  not  often  that  a  man  is  forced 
to  assume  such  responsibility  as  had 
suddenly  been  laid  upon  Ambrose  E  Burnside. 
The  generation  now  upon  the  stage,  the  young 
people  of  the  country,  know  him  only  by  name, 
but  he  was  an  important  actor  in  the  great 
drama  of  the  Rebellion.  He  was  born  in  a  log 
cabin  in  Indiana.  He  had  the  advan- 
tages of  the  common  school.  and 
afterwards  of  Miami  University  At  the 
age  of  17  he  was  apprenticed  as  a  tailor  at 
Centreville.  Ind.  When  his  apprenticeship 
was  finished  he  went  into  a  store,  in  which  he 
slept  upon  a  mattress  laid  upon  the  counter  at 
night.  Everybody  liked  him.  he  was  so  kind- 
hearted  and  affable.  When  19  years  old  he 
received  an  appointment  to  West  Point  from 
whence  he  graduated  in  1847. 

After  several  years'  service  in  the  army  on  the 
frontier  he  resigned  his  commission  and  en- 
gaged in  private  business.  In  1854  he  was  ap- 
pointed Cashier  of  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad 
by  General  McClellan,  then  connected  with  *,he 
road.  In  1860  he  was  appointed  Treasurer  of 
the  company  in  New  York.  On  Monday  morn- 
ing. April  15.  1861.  he  read  the 


President's  proclamation  calling  for  76,000 
troops  to  suppress  the  Rebellion.  Before  night 
he  received  a  telegram  from  Gov.  Spragne  of 
Rhode  Island,  asking  how  soon  he  could  be  in 
Providence  to  take  command  of  a  regiment 
He  replied  that  he  would  be  there  at  once. 
The  next  morning  he  was  in  that  city  super- 
vising the  fitting  out  of  the  regiment, 
which  a  few  days  later  he  accompanied 
to  Washington.  He  commanded  a  brigade 
and  led  the  advance  to  Bull  Run.  When  the 
North  Carolina  expedition  was  fitted  out  he  was 
appointed  to  the  command,  and  achieved  suc- 
cess at  Roanoake  Island  and  Newborn.  He  led 
the  advance  at  Salt  Mountain  and  at  Antietam 
held  the  left  of  the  line.  He  was  the  only  Gen- 
eral connected  with  the  Eastern  army  who  had 
won  success.  It  was  natural  that  the  President 
should  select  him  to  succeed  McClellan.  He 
thought  he  was  not  qualified  to  assume  com- 
mand of  so  large  an  army  He  knew  the  country 
demanded  an  aggressive  movement. 

No  commander  during  the  war  had  a  more 
difficult  task  to  accomplish  than  he.  or  a  prob- 
lem more  perplexing.  When  he  assumed  com- 
mand of  the  army  at  Warrenton,  General  Lee 
with  one-half  of  the  Confederate  Army  con- 
fronted him  on  the  headwaters  of  the 
Rappahanock.  The  other  half  under  Jackson 
was  stili  in  the  Shenaudoah  Valley.  The 
Confederate  Army  numbered  nearly  eighty 
thousand,  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty-seven  thousand.  At  the  begin- 


48 


STORIES    OF    ODK    SOLDIERS. 


mner  of  the  war  the  cry  had  been  "On  to  Rich- 
mond." The  people  did  not  see  that  the  power 
of  the  Rebellion  was  in  the  Rebel  army,  and 
there  could  not  be  peace  until  that  power 
was  crushed.  Gen.  Burnside  resolved  to 
make  a  rapid  march  eastward  across  the 
Rappahannock  at  Fredericksburg.  and  march 
from  thence  to  Richmond.  The  task  before  him 
was  far  greater  than  that  before  McClellan  on 
the  Upper  Potomac.  Then.  Lee  was  receiving 
his  supplies  by  wagon  from  Culpeper;  now  he 
was  receiving  them  by  rail  Burnside  submitted 
his  plans  to  Halleck.  Stanton  and  President 
Lincoln.  They  thought  well  of  it  It  was  neces- 
sary to  have  pontoons  taken  down  the  Potomac 
and  up  the  Rappahannock  to  enable  the  army  to 
cross  the  river.  Halleck  promised  to  have  them 
there.  The  railroad  from  Aquia  Creek  was  to 
be  opened. 

Burnside  reorganized  the  army  into  three 
grand  divisions,  each  consisting:  of  two  corps. 

The  right  wing  was  commanded  by  Gen.  Sum- 
ner,  the  centre  by  Gen,  Hooker  and  the  left 
wing  by  Gen.  Franklin.  The  march  was  made 
with  great  rapidity  to  Fal  mouth  on  the  north 
bank  of  the  Rappahannock.  The  Con 
federate  force  in  Fredericksburg  con- 
sisted of  four  companies  of  infantry, 
a  regiment  of  cavalry,  and  one  battery. 
The  Confederates  were  greatly  surprised  to  see 
the  Falmouth  and  Stafford  Hills  suddenly 
swarming  with  the  40,000  men  composing  Sum- 
ner's  grand  division  The  Confederate  battery 
opened  tire,  but  a  moment  later  Captain  Pettit 
opened  with  his  10-pounder  Parrot  guns,  firing 
with  such  sure  aim  that  it  was  quickly  silenced. 
The  pontoons  had  not  arrived.  The  railroad 
to  Aquia  Creek  had  not  been  repaired.  The 
part  which  Gen.  Halleck  was  to  perform  had 
not  been  accomplished.  It  was  the  fatal  mis- 
take of  the  campaign  Had  the  pontoons  been 
there,  forty  thousand  men  would  have  been 
across  the  Rappahanock  before  sunrise  the  fol- 
lowing morning. 

CoL  Brooks,  commanding  a  brigade,  saw  some 
cattle  wade  the  stream  He  noticed  that  the 
water  was  not  more  than  knee  deep  He  sent  a 
messenger  to  Sumner  informing  him  of  his  dis- 
covery. Burnside  had  not  arrived,  Sumner 
sent  a  letter  to  him  asking  permission  to  cross 
the  river  and  seize  the  hills  behind 
the  town.  Burnside  hastened  tc  Falmouth 
and  decided  that  the  risk  was  too  gr«at; 
that  he  must  wait  for  the  pontoons  The  second 
great  mistake  had  been  made.  Lee  was  between 
thirty  and  forty  miles  distant,  Jackson  sixty 


miles.  Before  Lee  could  arrive  the  entire  Army 
01  the  Potomac  could  have  been  on  the  southern 
bank  of  the  Rappahanock.  There  were  enough 
skilled  mechanics  in  the  army  to  rebuild  the 
burned  bridges,  the  stone  piers  of  which  were 
standing.  The  army  had  provisions  for  several 
days.  The  first  mistake  was  through  the  negli- 
gence of  Halleck ;  the  second  by  Burnside.  due 
to  his  caution. 

Twelve  days  passed,  the  army  reposing  the 
while  on  the  Falmouth  and  Stafford  Hills. 
Burnside  visited  Washington  and  consulted 
with  Halleck  and  Stanton  in  regard  to  the  situ 
ation.  He  desired  to  go  into  winter  quarters, 
but  was  informed  that  the  army  must  make  a 
move.  Probably  the  decision  was  made  on 
political  grounds:  it  was  a  terrible  mistake 
on  the  part  of  the  War  Depart- 
ment. Burnside  made  another  mistake  in  not 
demanding  from  Halleck  a  plan  for  the  move 
ment  which  he  insisted  must  be  made.  The 
original  plan  had  been  upset  by  Halleck's  negli- 
gence, and  the  movement  which  that  officer 
now  demanded  was  against  Burnside's  judg- 
ment. Had  the  pontoons  been  at  Freder- 
icksburg no  battle  would  have  been 
fought  there  during  that  week  in  Decem- 
ber. Lee  would  have  been  compelled 
to  hasten  towards  the  North  Anna  River  to  in- 
terpose his  army  between  Burnside  and  Rich- 
mond. Burnside  made  no  pretensions  as  a  strat- 
egist, and  he  could  devise  no  other  plan  than  to 
lay  several  pontoon  bridges  across  the  Rapoa- 
banock  and  attack  Lee  in  his  strong  entrench- 
ments upon  the  Fredericksburg  Hills. 

During  those  December  days  I  was  accus- 
tomed to  ride  along  the  northern  bank  of  the 
river  from  Falmouth  to  the  birthplace  of  Wash- 
ingtn«-  "''e  Confederate  sentinels  were  pacing 
iheir  j  ong  the  river.  It  it  a  narrow  stream 

iess  than  .  *ee  hundred  feet  wide.  The  Union 
pickets  guarded  the  northern  shore.  "  Say, 
Yank,  when  are  ye  gwine  to  Richmond?"  the 
bail  from  a  Confederate. 

"We'll  get  there.  Johnny  E«b.  you  betl" 
the  reply* 

Then  came  a  volley  of  epithets  from  the  Fred- 
ericksburg side  which  do  not  look  well  in  print, 
followed  by  another  volley  from  the  northern 
bank  hurled  across  the  stream  The  hard  words 
hurt  no  one  They  were  only  explosions  of  the 
grim  humor  of  the  true  American  soldier. 

From  Gen.  Sumner's  headquarters  T  have  a 
wide  sweep  of  country  in  view.  On  the  right  I 
see  a  steep  bluff  behind  the  town,  a  plateau  at 
its  base  gently  sloping  toward  the  river.  The 


CROSSING    AT    FREDERICKSUURG. 


51 


turnpike  leading:  west  to  Gordonsville  is  in 
plain  view.  At  the  top  of  the  bluff  I 
behold  the  house  of  Mr.  Marye.  with 
breastworks  in  front  of  it  on  the  edge 
of  the  bluff.  Half  way  down  the 
street  I  see  a  line  of  yellow  earth  and  a  line  of 
men  behind  it.  I  can  see  cannon  peeping  from 
embrasures.  1  do  not  know  at  that  moment  nor 
does  any  one  in  the  army  know  that  there  is  a 
sunken  road  running  along  the  base  of  the 
bluff,  and  that  a  brigade  of  Confederates  is 
lying  there  in  the  natural  fortification. 
There  are  three  lines  of  men  securely 
entrenched.  Since  then  I  have  stood  upon 
the  bluff  with  Gen.  Longstreet.  who  kindly 
pointed  the  positions  of  his  troops  and  of  his 
cannon  planted  to  sweep  every  rod  of  ground 
between  the  Dluff  and  the  town.  His  Chief  En- 
gineer after  placing  the  cannon  in  position  said : 
"General.  I  have  still  some  guns  left." 
"Can't  you  put  them  in  somewhere?  " 
"I  don't  need  them;  you  couldn't  rake  tht> 
nola  with  a  fine-tooth  comb  more  completely 
than  I  can  with  my  batteries."  the  Chief  En 
arineer  replied. 

Before  engaging  in  journalism  I  had  had  some 
experience  in  civil  engineering,  and  had  been 
long  enough  with  the  army  to  comprehend  mil- 
itary topography.  My  heart  sank  as  I  surveyed 
the  ground  and  thought  of  the  consequences 
that  assuredly  would  follow  any  attempt  to 
force  the  Confederates  from  that  position.  In  a 
letter  written  to  The  Journal  Dec.  9. 1862. 1  said : 
"  I  know  there  is  a  desire  for  an  onward  move 
ment,  but  I  think  that  few  men  in  the  country 
after  taking  a  look  at  the  rebel  position  would 
like  to  lead  in  a  movement  across  the  stream." 
I  believed  that  attempt  to  carry  Marye's 
Heights  would  end  in  disastrous  failure  and 
great  loss  of  life.  The  outlook  was  more 
hopeful  for  an  advance  across  the  plain 
east  of  the  town,  where  Franklin  had 
laid  his  pontoons.  The  railroad  and  the 
main  traveled  road  between  Fredericksburg 
and  Richmond  run  across  this,  plain  The 
bluff  fades  out  in  that  direction.  1  could 
not  think  that  General  Burnside  would  at 
tempt  anything  more  than  a  demonstration 
upon  Marye's  Heights,  but  would  make  his  main 
attack  at  the  crossing  of  the  railroad  and  Rich- 
mond turnpike.  There  was  no  natural  obstacle 
to  prevent  a  flank  movement  in  that  direction. 
But  such  was  not  Burnside's  plan;  IE 
reality  he  had  no  plan  other  than  to  cross  the 
river  and  make  attacks  at  Hamilton's  Crossing 
*nd  Marye's  Heights  at  the  same  time. 


The  sun  went  down  behind  the  western  hor- 
izon December  10.  With  the  coming  of  dark- 
ness there  was  great  activity  in  the  artillery 
corps.  Gen.  Hunt  placed  147  cannon  on  the 
Falmouth  and  Stafford  hills,  to  open  fire  if  the 
crossing  of  the  river  and  the  laying  of  the  pon- 
toons was  contested.  It  was  about  five  o'clock 
on  the  morning  of  the  llth.  when  I  heard  the 
troops  astir.  A  dense  fog  had  settled  over 
the  valley.  As  I  looked  out  at  that  hour  I 
could  see  shadowy  forms  around  the  bivouac 
fires  Some  soldiers  were  boiling  their  cof- 
fee, others  packing  their  blankets.  I  heard 
the  rumble  of  wagons  and  a  little  later  the  pon- 
toon trains  came  winding  down  the  declivity  to 
the  bank  of  the  river.  It  was  proposed  to  con- 
struct two  bridges  opposite  the  town,  two  more 
a  third  of  a  mile  down  stream,  and  two  more  a 
mile  and  a  half  farther  down,  near  the  house  of 
Mr.  Bernard.  Sumner  and  Hooker  were  to  use 
those  opposite  the  town  and  Franklin  those 
farther  down  Burnside  had  sent  a  summons 
across  the  river  for  the  surrender  of  the  town, 
which  had  been  refused. 

The  wagons  bearing  the  pontoons  are  brought 
to  the  edge  of  the  stream  and  the  boats  launched. 
The  engineer  cores  place  them  in  position  and 
lay  the  timbers  and  planks.  The  bridge  farthest 
OP  stream  is  finished  half  way  before  the  fog 
lifts  sufficiently  to  allow  the  Confederate  pick- 
ets to  take  aim  at  the  men  in  blue.  At  first  there 
is  a  pattering  fire  and  then  a  volley  of  musketry, 
and  the  men  laying  the  timbers  drop  help- 
lessly into  the  stream.  Fresh  men  step  for- 
ward to  take  the  places  of  those 
who  have  fallen,  to  be  shot  in 
turn.  For  a  while  the  attempt  to  lay  the  bridges 
is  relinquished,  except  those  farthest  down  the 
stream,  where  there  is  no  opposition  to  their 
construction.  At  half-past  nine  Geu  Franklin 
sends  a  message  that  nis  bridge  is  finished  and 
chat  he  is  ready  to  cross.  The  forenoon  passes, 
during  which  a  half-dozen  attempts  are  made  to 
complete  the  upper  brHge,  but  every  man  who 
walks  out  with  a  plank  is  killed  or  wounded  by 
the  Confederates  lying  in  their  rifle  pits  along 
the  bank,  or  who  are  concealed  in  the  houses. 
The  annals  of  war  do  not  furnish  many  more 
brilliant  examples  of  bravery  than  that  of  Capt. 
Brainard  of  the  Fiftieth  New  York.  who.  with 
eleven  men,  go  out  unon  the  run.  Five  fall  at 
one  volley  and  the  wounded  return  Capt  Per- 
kins of  the  same  regiment  leads  another  party, 
but  falls,  with  half  his  men.  It  is  a  sacrifice  of 
life  with  nothing  gained. 

Gen.  Burnside  has  no  desire  to   injure   the 


52 


STORIES    OF    OUR    SOLDIERS. 


town,  bat  under  the  usages  of  war  he  has  a 
right  to  bombard  it  "Bring  all  your  Runs  to 
bear  upon  the  city  and  batter  it  down."  is  the 
order  to  Gen.  Hunt 

A  moment  later  179  cannon  are  hurling 
solid  shot  and  shell  across  the  stream.  The  air 
is  thick  with  murfcy  clouds.  The  earth  shakes 
beneath  the  cannonade.  I  hear  the  shells  ex 
ploding  in  the  houses.  During  the  afternoon 
the  cannon  Same  till  more  than  9000  missiles 
are  sent  across  the  river.  The  shells  set  fire  to 
a  block  cf  buildings,  the  burning  of  which  adds 
terrible  grandeur  to  the  scene.  In  consequence 
of  the  formation  of  the  ground,  the  Union  can 
non  cannot  be  sufficiently  depressed  to  shell 
out  the  Mississiopians  of  Barksdale's  brigade 
from  the  cellars  of  the  houses.  Barksdale  is 
holding  the  line.  He  was  a  member  of  Con- 
gress before  the  war  and  a  violent  secessionist. 
The  time  has  come  for  a  bold  movement  Dur- 
ing the  day  Col.  Hall's  brigade  of  Sumner's' 
corps  has  been  in  position  near  the  house  cf  Mr 
Lacy. 

"My  soldiers  are  ready  to  cross  the  river  In 
the  boats  and  drive  out  the  Confederates  "  was 
his  message  to  Gen.  Stunner. 

Permission  is  granted  him.  His  own  regi- 
ment, the  Seventh  Michigan,  and  the  Nine- 
teenth Massachusetts,  which  was  in  the  thick 
of  the  fight  at  Ball's  Bluff,  respond  to  the  call 
for  volunteers.  At  a  signal  Lieut  Col.  Baxter 
and  the  men  from  Michigan  go  down  the  bank 
upon  the  run,  push  the  boats  into  the  stream, 
leap  into  them  and  steer  for  the  other  shore. 
Baxter  falls ,  a  score  of  men  go  down,  but  the 
boats  move  on.  A  moment  later,  before  the 
Confederates  have  time  to  reload  their  muskets, 
the  men  are  jumping  ashore,  charging  upon  the 
rifle  pits  and  capturing  them.  The  Nineteenth 
Massachusetts  is  crossing  a  little  farther  up  the 
stream.  As  the  boats  near  the  shore  the  soldiers 
leap  into  the  water  rush  up  the  bank  into  the 
houses,  smash  in  the  windows,  batter  down  the 
doors,  capturing  all  within.  Vividly  has  the 
poet  Boker  pictured  the  scene.  I  quote  from  his 
stanzas: 

••  They  leaped  into  lae  rocking  shallops— 

Ten  offered  where  one  could  go; 
And  the  breeze  was  alive  with  laughter 
Till  the  boatmen  began  to  row 

"  And  man;  a  brave,  stout  fellow 

Who  sprang  In  the  boats  with  mirth 
Ere  they  made  that  fatal  crosstna 
Was  only  lifeless  earth 

*  Cheer  after  cheer  we  gent  them 

As  only  armies  can— 
Cheers  for  old  Massachusetts 
Cheers  for  young  Michigan 
"  They  formed  in  line  of  battle ; 
Not  a  man  was  out  of  place. 
Then  with  level  steel  they  hurled  them 
straight  In  the  rebel's  face." 


The  sun  is  going  down,  red  and  fiery,  througn 
the  battle  clouds.  From  my  position  I  can  look 
straight  up  the  street  where  the  Nineteenth 
Massachusetts  is  making  its  way.  The  men  In 
blue  are  nearest;  beyon'l  them  I  can  see  the 
men  in  gray,  some  of  them  in  tne  streets,  others 
firing  from  doorways  and  windows.  There 
is  a  humming  in  the  air  over  my  head,  and  a 
pattering  of  leaden  rain  in  the  river  The 
officers  are  shouting  their  orders.  One  of  my 
dear  friends,  Rev  Arthur  Buckminister  Fuller. 
Chaplain  of  the  Massachusetts  Sixteenth,  is  in 
the  thick  of  the  fight.  He  is  a  brother  of 
Margaret  Fuller  Ossoli,  renowned  in  American 
literature  He  preached  before  the  war  to  the 
seamen  in  Father  Taylor's  chapel  at  the  north 
end  of  Boston ,  he  also  preached  at  Manchester 
N.  H.  He  was  preaching  at  Watertown  at 
the  outbreak  of  the  war.  and  resigned 
his  pastorate  to  become  a  chaplain.  He 
has  served  the  soldiers  with  untiring  devotion. 
His  health  has  failed  and  he  has  just  taken  his 
departure  from  the  regiment  to  serve  in  one  of 
the  hospitals  at  Washington.  He  has  seen  the 
heroic  devotion  of  those  who  have  given  their 
lives  in  the  attempt  to  lay  the  pontoons.  His 
blood  is  up.  Seizing  a  musket  from  a  soldier 
on  the  northern  bank  he  has  crossed  the  river 
as  a  volunteer. 

"  I  want  to  do  something  for  my  country 
Where  shall  I  go?"  he  says  to  Capt.  Dunn. 

II  you  wish  to  take  part  you  can  fall  in  on 
the  left."  was  the  reply  of  that  officar. 

Chaplain  Fuller  deliberately  loads  his  musket 
and  takes  his  place  on  the  left  The  company 
advances  up  the  street.  Suddenly  muskets 
flash  from  doors  and  windows  Chaplain  Fuller 
fires,  reloads  and  fires  again.  Not  more  than 
five  minutes  have  passed  since  he  utterea  the 
words.  "I  want  to  do  something  for  my  coun- 
try "  His  work  is  done  A  bullet  has  pierced 
his  heart  A  line  of  Confederates  suddenly  ap- 
pears in  the  street  an  1  the  advancing  column  is 
driven.  A  little  later  the  Union  troop  advance 
once  more,  and  tney  discover  that  the  pockets 
of  Chaplain  Fuller  have  been  plundered  and 
his  body  thrust  through  by  the  bayonets  of  the 
Mississippians. 

No  scene  of  the  war  was  more  dramatic  than 
the  crossing  at  Fredericksburg.  Thirty  years 
have  gone  by,  but  I  see  as  then— the  men  in 
blue  and  gray  confronting  one  another  in  the 
gathering  darkness  Some  are  loading  their 
guns  some  taking  deliberate  aim  Muskets 
flash  rnen  fall  others  take  their  places  The 
flames  of  burning  buildings  light  up  the  gather- 
ing gloom.  Again  I  hear  the  confused  hum  of 
voices,  the  rattle  of  musketry,  the  singing  of 
buliets  in  the  air,  the  crash  of  shells,  the 
thunder  of  the  cannonade.  The  uproar  grad- 
ually diminishes.  The  cannon  cease  their 
thunder  and  silence  comes,  broken  only  by  the 
tramping  of  the  regiments  crossing  the  river. 
No  pen  picture  can  give  the  true  significance  of 
the  scene,  for  with  all  this  there  is  the  neroism, 
devotion,  the  sacrifice  of  life,  the  pathos,  which 
stirs  my  bloorl  and  brings  tears  to  ray  eyes  as  I 
think  of  those  who  so  willingly  laid  down  their 
lives  that  this  government  of  the  people  might 
not  perish  from  the  earth. 


CROSSING    AT    FREDERICKSBURG. 


55 


T^P- 


Hever  a  man  needed  sympathy  under  trying 
circumstances  it  was  General  Burnside  at 
Fredericks  burg.  During  the  night  his  army 
had  crossed  the  Rappahannock  to  fight  a  great 
battle.  The  movement  ha  1  been  demanded  by 
the  loyal  people  of  the  North.  He  had  coun- 
seled with  the  President  and  the  military 
authorities  at  Washington,  who  said  that  he 
must  make  a  movement.  He  was  confronted 
by  an  army  numbering  nearly  eighty  thousand, 
in  a  very  strong  position.  Through  no  fault 
of  his  own,  his  original  plan  had  been 
unset  Now  he  had  no  plan  other  than 
to  advance  with  his  whole  army  and 
attempt  to  carry  the  Confederate  breastworks. 
He  placed  Gen.  Sumner's  grand  division  on  the 
right.  Hooker's  in  the  centre,  and  Franklin's  on 
the  left.  He  did  not  know  the  qualities  of  these 
commanders  only  »s  they  had  been  exhr  ited  at 
Antietam.  Sumner  was  brave  and  energetic. 
He  had  been  trained  as  a  cavalry  commander. 
He  had  rendered  excellent  service- on  the  Penin- 
sula, but  at  Antietam  the  formation  of  his 
trooDS  had  been  very  faulty.  Hooker  was  bold, 
impulsive  and  aggressiva  He  was  already 
known  as  "  Fighting  Joe."  Franklin  had  not 
been  in  position  to  manifest  his  abilities,  except 
in  a  small  way  at  Crampton's  Gap. 

Soon  after  davlieht  1  rode  across  the  upper 
pontoon  to  Fredericksburg.  The  bodies  of  those 
killed  the  previous  evening  were  lying  where 
they  fell — some  at  the  water's  edge,  others 
farther  up  the  bank  and  in  the  streets.  Strin- 
gent orders  had  been  issued  against  committing 


depredation,  but  as  the  Confederates  had  fired 
from  the  houses  the  order  became  a  dead  letter. 
Doors  had  been  battered  down  and  windows 
smashed.  Solid  shot  had  crashed  through  the 
walls.  There  were  great  rents  where  the  sides 
of  the  buildings  had  been  shattered  by  the  ex- 
plosion of  shells'.  After  the  fighting  was  over 
for  the  night  the  soldiers  had  made  themselves 
at  home  in  the  deserted  houses.  They  tumbied 
the  furniture  into  the  streets,  brought  out 
feather  beds  and  mattresses,  which  the  Sur-reons 
soon  appropriated  for  the  use  of  the  wounded. 
Some  were  boiling:  their  coffee  in  the  kitchens; 
others  were  cooking  eg^rs  or  frying  flapjacks 
from  flour  found  in  the  pantries.  They  were 
rummaging  closets  and  taking  whatever  pleased 
their  fancy  for  the  moment. 

Fancy  runs  wild  at  sucri  a  time.  One  soldier 
was  strolling  the  streets,  wearing  an  old-fash- 
ioned scoop  bonnet ;  another  had  on  a  chemisa 
over  his  uniform;  a  third  was  wearing  a  gown; 
a  fourth  had  a  mantie  thrown  over  his  shoul- 
ders; another  appeared  with  a  string  of  custard 
cups,  which  he  was  wearing  as  a  necklace ;  an- 
other had  found  an  old-fashioned  bell-crowned 
hat,  in  fashion  30  years  before  the  war.  It  waa 
more  like  a  masquera  le  than  anything  else. 

I  came  upon  Gen.  Oliver  O.  Howard,  now  a 
Major  General  of  the  army,  and  who  had  led 
the  advance  in  the  occupation  of  Fredericks- 
burg.  He  was  seated  in  a  chair  upon  the  side- 
walk, with  his  staff  around  him,  waiting  for 
orders.  I  had  a  very  pleasant  cbat  with  him  for 
a  few  moments  in  regard  to  the  scenes  of  the 


56 


STORIES    OF   OUB    SOLDIERS. 


night,  and  then  rode  through  the  street*,  oat  to 
the  picket  line.  The  density  of  the  tog  pre- 
vented my  seeing  the  position  of  the  Confed- 
erates, and  I  returned  to  Gen.  Burnside's  head- 
quarters on  the  northern  bank  ol  the  river. 

It  was  just  half-past  9  o'clock  in  the  morning 
•when  the  roar  of  a  cannon  broke  the  stillness. 
It  was  fired  by  Captain  Pelham,  as  we  know, 
connected  with  the  Confederate  artillery  at- 
tached to  Stuart's  cavalry,  far  down  upon  the 
left  It  was  followed  by  several  other  peals. 
Comprehending  that  the  battle  was  to  begin  in 
that  direction  Heaped  into  my  saddle  and  rode 
along  the  bank  of  the  river  to  Franklin's  pon- 
toons. 

General  Burnside  expected  that  FranKlin 
would  turn  the  flank  of  Jackson  and  secure  the 
railroad  leading  to  Richmond.  The  troops  were 
moving  across  the  plain  toward  Hamilton's 
Crossing.  The  fog  had  lifted  sufficiently  to  en- 
able Stuart  to  open  the  battle.  A  few  moments 
later  I  heard  the  pattering  fire  of  the  skirmish- 
ers. General  Meade's  division  was  in  the  ad- 
vance. After  a  rattling  fire  which  lasted  a  few 
moments  there  came  a  volley  of  musketry, 
which  indicated  that  the  battle  had  begun  in 
earnest. 

Just  before  reaching  the  pontoons,  I  met  two 
soldiers  bringing  a  third  who  had  been  wounded 
in  one  foot.  They  laid  him  on  the  ground  a  few 
moments.  He  was  making  sad  lamentation 
that  his  foot  was  torn  all  to  pieces.  The  bullet 
had  entered  at  the  toe  of  the  boot  I  said  to 
him  that  it  would  be  well  to  take  it  off  before 
the  foot  became  swollen.  One  of  the  soldiers 
attempted  to  remove  it.  but  the  wounded  man 
made  bitter  complaint. 

-Cut  it  off,"  he  said. 

Neither  of  the  soldiers  had  a  knife,  where- 
upon 1  dismounted  and  cut  the  boot  open. 
Upon  examining  the  wound  I  found  the  bullet 
imbeded  in  the  flesh  between  his  toes  and 
picked  it  out  with  my  fingers. 

"If  that  is  all.  we  won't  carry  you  any  far- 
ther." said  one  of  the  soldiers,  and  left  him. 

The  fellow  evidently  was  more  soared  than 
hurt. 

Crossing  the  river  I  came  upon  a  brigade  of 
cavalry.  The  soldiers  had  tethered  their  horses 
to  the  trees  surrounding  the  house  of  Mr. 
Benard.  Gen.  Bayard,  commanding  tne  brigade, 
was  seated  at  the  root  of  a  tree  filling  his  pipe 
for  a  smoke.  Alter  a  few  moments'  conversa- 
tion witii  him  I  passed  on  toward  Meade's  com- 
mand. 

A  little  later  a  cannon  liall  came  whizzing 
across  the  field.  It  was  a  chance  shot,  but  se- 
lected Gen.  Bayard  for  its  mark,  instantly  kill- 
ing him. 

Now,  I  could  see  Doubleday's  division  on  my 
left,  facing  east,  standing  at  a  right  angle  with 
the  river.  The  soldiers  were  in  line,  but  not 
taking  part  in  the  battle.  Beyond  them  I  could 
see  puffs  of  smoke  from  the  skirmishers  thrown 
out  toward  the  Confederate  cavalry.  In  the 
direction  of  Hamilton's  crossing,  the  division 
under  Gen.  Meskle  was  hotly  engaged.  Gibbon's 


division  was  on  Meade't  rigu*  Eighteen  can- 
non on  a  knoll  were  sending  their  shells  upon 
the  Confederate  lines.  As  Meade's  troops 
moved  on  they  came  to  a  hollow,  where  they 
halted  a  moment  and  then  advanced  toward  the 
railroad. 


There  was  nothing  to  obstruct  my  view.  The 
railroad  embankment  was  in  sight  behind 
where  I  could  see  the  sunlight  glistening  on  the 
bayonets  of  the  Confederates  belonging  to 
Lane's  and  Archer's  brigades  of  Jackson's  di- 
vision. There  was  a  gap  between  them  into 
which  Meade  determined  to  force  his  way. 

He  would  use  his  troops  as  an  entering  wedge. 
The  next  moment  14  cannon  in  the  woods  tie- 
hind  the  Confederates  opened  fire  and  tne  shells 
came  thick  and  fast  upon  the  advancing  line. 
But,  unmindful  of  the  storm,  the  troops  rushed 
on  to  the  railroad,  dashed  into  the  gap  and  cap- 
tured about  20O  prisoners  and  several  standards. 
There  was  a  confusion  in  the  Confederate  lines 
and  a  quick  retreat  to  the  woocia  Meade's  men 
rushed  after  them  and  the  battle  waxed  hot  and 
heavy  in  the  edge  of  the  forest 

Jackson  ordered  General  Gregg's  brigade  to 
advance  to  the  help  of  Archer  and  Lane. 
Swell's  division,  near  the  house  of  Mr.  Hamil- 
ton, came  upon  the  run,  but  before  they  arrived 
Gregg's  South  Carolina  brigade  was  nearly  cut 
to  pieces.  Gregg  was  wounded,  but  leaning 
against  a  tree  urged  on  his  men  until  he  dropped 
unconscious  to  the  ground.  Of  course  1  did  not 
at  the  moment  know  this  incident.  I  cannot 
say  how  long  the  contest  went  on.  for  on  a  bat- 
tlefield one  usually  takes  little  note  of  time, 
especially  when  bullets  are  humming  through 
the  air  and  shells  exploding  not  far  away.  After 
a  while  the  Union  troops  came  in  a  flock  from 
the  woods.  They  had  been  attacked  in  flank,  as 
we  now  know,  by  four  Confederate  brigades. 
Beside  the  killed  and  wounded  left  upon  the 
ground  in  the  edge  of  the  woods,  Meade  lost 
several  hundred  who  were  taken  prisoners. 


Gen.  Gibbon  had  been  directed  to  support 
Meade.  He  advanced  to  the  railroad,  where  the 
embankment  was  somewhat  higher  than  where 
Meade  advanced.  It  was  therefore  a  natural 
breastwork  for  the  Confederates.  Gibbon'* 
men  came  up  to  the  embankment  and  fired  in 
the  faces  of  the  men  in  gray,  who  stubbornly 
held  their  ground.  Some  oi  Gibbon's  regiments 
gave  way.  The  Twelfth  Massachusetts  was  in 
the  second  line,  in  the  brigade  commanded  by 
CoL  Lyle.  I  do  not  remember  whether  the  Six- 
teenth Maine  was  in  that  brigade,  but  that  regi- 
ment. I  think,  joined  with  the  Twelfth  in  a 
charge  upon  the  Confederates,  which  was  so 
sudden  and  vigorous  that  about  two  hundred  of 
the  enemy  gave  themselves  up  as  prisoners. 
The  position  which  had  been  gained  was  held 
for  some  minutes,  but  no  supports  came  and 
they  were  soon  compelled  to  retreat  They  re- 
tired slowly  and  in  good  order. 

This  is  a  very  meagre  account  ot  a  conflict  in 
which  one  hundred  and  five  men,  out  of  two 


SERGEANT    I'LUNKETT    AND    THK    COLORS. 


CROSSING   AT    FREDERICKSBURG. 


59 


nundred  and  fifty-eight,  composing  the  Twelfth 
Regiment  were  killed  or  wounded.  This  regi- 
ment at  the  begining  of  the  war  was  com- 
manded by  Colonel  Fletcher  \Vebster,  son  of 
Daniel  Webster,  who  was  killed  at  Manassas. 
It  was  a  pitiful  sight — the  lines  of  men  bearing 
stretchers  and  carrying  the  wounded  to  the 
rear  and  placing  them  in  the  ambulances — piti- 
ful because  nothing  had  been  gained  by  the 
attack. 

When  Meade  and  Gibbon  retired  the  Confed- 
erates made  the  air  ring  witn  their  exultant 
cheers.  Biruey's  division  advanced  to  meet 
them,  and  thirty  cannon  opened  fire,  compelling 
the  Confederates  in  turn  to  fall  back  into  the 
woods.  Of  more  than  forty  thousand  troops  at 
his  disposal  Franklin  had  used  only  about  fif- 
teen thousand.  From  the  success  attained  by 
Meade  it  seems  pro  'able  that  had  Franklin  sent 
in  the  remainder  of  his  troops,  Jackson  would 
have  been  driven  from  his  position,  and  Lee's 
right  flank  successfully  turned. 

Seeing  no  disposition  on  the  part  of  General 
Franklin  to  attack  with  vigor  I  determined  to 
ride  back  to  General  Bur nside'a  headquarters  on 
thenorth  bank  of  the  Rappahannock  to  ascertain 
officially,  if  possible,  what  was  going  on.  As  I 
reached  the  bank  of  tne  river  a  solid  shot 
whizzed  over  my  head  and  dropped  into  the 
water.  The  cavalry,  which  at  the  beginning  of 
the  battle  had  been  tethered  to  the  trees  around 
Bernard's  house,  had  been  removed  to  a  shelter 
beneath  the  bank.  Upon  reaching  the  head- 
quarters of  Burnside  I  found  that  Sumner  had 
been  employed  during  the  morning  in  getting 
his  troops  into  position.  Burnside  had  expected 
greater  results  from  Franklin's  movement,  and 
had  not  ordered  Sumner  to  advance  until 
between  11  and  12  o'clock. 


Burnside  did  not  know  there  was  a  canal  in 
rear  of  the  town,  which  the  troops  must  cross  in 
column  before  they  could  come  into  position 
for  an  attack.  The  canal  ta&es  the  water  from 
the  Rappahanoek.  opposite  the  village  of  Pal- 
mouth,  to  supply  the  Souring  mills  at  the  lower 
end  of  Fredencksburg.  It  was  a  very  formid- 
able obstacle  to  Sumner's  advance.  The  en- 
gineers, it  seems,  did  not  know  of  its  existence, 
Blin-lly,  and  without  any  well-considered  plan, 
an  attempt  was  to  be  made  to  drive  Longstreet 
from  his  formidable  position.  The  attacking 
force  must  advance  across  a  plateau,  which 
could  be  swept  by  nearly  one  hundred  Confed- 
erate cannon.  At  the  base  of  the  bluff  was  a 
sunken  road,  filled  with  Confederates.  Half 
Way  up  was  a  trench,  also  filled  with  Confed- 
erates. At  the  top  of  the  hill  was  a  line  of 
breastworks  and  the  artillery. 

Sumner's  troops  through  the  morning  had 
been  standing  in  the  streets  ot  the  town.  The 
Confederate  cannon  had  been  silent,  but  when 
the  Eighth  Ohio  Regiment  marched  UD  Hano- 
ver street,  and  the  First  Delaware  Regiment  ap- 
peared upon  Princess  Ann  street,  respectively 
leading  the  two  columns,  the  storm  burst  forth. 
J 

ft  was  a  little  past  11  o'clock  when  115  soldiers 
of  the  Ohio  regiment  advanced  as  skirmishers. 


of  whom  48  were  killed  ana  wounded  in  less 
than  ten  minutes,  but  they  drove  the  Confeder- 
ate skirmishers  from  their  positions  and  reached 
the  bank  on  the  west  side  of  the  ravine  beyond 
the  canal.  General  Nathan  Kim  ball,  who  once 
defeated  Stonewall  Jackson  at  Kearnstown  in 
the  Shenandoah  Valley,  formed  his  brigade  in 
Caroline  street.  The  moment  the  head  of  the 
column  reached  the  open  ground  the  Confeder- 
ate cannon  opened  fire.  The  next  moment  the 
thirty-pounders  of  the  Union  artillery  on  the 
northern  bank  of  the  Raopahannock  sent  their 
shells  high  above  the  heads  of  the  Union  soldiers 
into  the  Confederate  lines. 

Briga  !e  after  brigade  passed  across  the  canal 
and  came  into  position  under  the  shelter  of  the 
ravine.  When  all  were  ready,  at  a  signal  they 
climb  the  bank  and  rush  across  the  open  field. 
Suddenly  Marye's  Hights  are  aflame — the 
sunken  road  at  the  base,  the  trench  half  way 
UP,  the  crest,  all  three  are  flashing  and  flaming. 

From  my  standpoint  f can  see  shot  and  shells 
coming  from  the  right,  from  the  front,  and 
from  the  left  into  the  advancing  lines— a  cross 
and  direct  fire.  The  lines  are  three  or  four 
deep.  It  is  a  blue  wave  advancing  across  the 
plateau.  Men  are  dropping,  the  ground  is 
thickly  strown  with  prostrate  forms.  Hundreds 
are  limping  toward  the  rear,  but  on.  UD  almost 
to  the  sunken  road  the  wave  rolls  on,  then 
breaks  and  drifts  back  to  the  shelter  of  the 
ravine.  Nearly  «ix  thousand  men  have  ad- 
vanced, but  in  this  brief  period  nearly  two 
thousand  have  been  killed  or  wounded. 

General  Sumner  is  not  a  man  to  give  up  a 
Contest  after  one  repulse.  He  orders  up  How- 
ard's division.  Again  the  dark  mass  advances 
over  the  plateau,  but  only  to  retire  with  dis- 
mantled ranks.  Since  the  war  1  have  walked 
over  the  field  with  General  Ransom,  a  Confed- 
erate commander,  who  said  he  could  but  admire 
the  bravery  and  determination  of  the  Union 
troops,  and  that  it  pained  him  to  see  them 
slaughtered  to  terribly  when  there  was  no 
chance  of  their  carrying  the  position. 

Thus  far  the  attacks  had  been  made  by  the 
troops  of  the  Second  Corps.  Sumner  now  or- 
dered UD  aturgis's  division  of  the  Ninth  Corps, 
in  which  were  the  Sixth.  Ninth  and  Eleventh 
New  Hampshire,  the  Twenty-first  and  Thirty- 
flftn  Massachusetts  Regiments.  The  last  named 
had  been  at  Roanoke  Island,  South  Mountain, 
Antietam  and  Chantilly.  It  was  commanded  br 
Col.  Clark.  When  Sturgis  advanced  the  regv 
ment  went  almost  up  to  the  sunken  road,  when 
Serg.  Collins,  carrying  the  flag  of  the 
Twenty-first,  fell.  The  flag  was  instant- 
ly seized  by  Serg.  Flunket  He  was 
born  in  Ireland,  but  came  to  this  country  when 
a  boy.  When  10  years  of  age  he  earned  his 
living  making  shoes  in  West  Boylston.  He  had 
distinguished  himself  in  other  battles  by  his 
coolness  and  i Ta very.  As  he  picks  up  the  flag 
his  comrades  hear  him  shout,  "Come  on!" 
The  next  instant  a  shell  bursts  in  front  of 
him  and  both  hands  are  gone,  but  with 
his  bleeding  arms  he  clasps  the 
flag  to  his  neart.  staining  it  with  blood.  To  him 


60 


STORIES    OF    OUR    SOLDIERS. 


there  is  nothing  on  earth  so  dear.  Many  who 
may  read  this  letter  will  recall  him  as  door- 
keeper at  the  coat  room  in  the  State  House  up 
to  1884.  Many  times  1  have  felt  something 
rise  in  my  throat  and  the  moisture  slithering  in 
my  eyes  as  I  saw  him  patiently  sitting:  there, 
with  the  two  hooks  at  the  ends  of  his  arms,  the 
only  substitute  for  the  hands  which  he  had 
given  to  his  country.  He  was  ever  an  eloquent 
and  pathetic  testimonial  to  the  power  of  the 
flag  to  transform  citizens  of  other  lands  into 
true-hearted  and  patriotic  citizens  of  the  repub- 
lic. At  the  time  of  his  death  the  Legislature,  in  a 
body,  with  the  flag  he  carried  at  Fredericks- 
burs,  attended  his  funeral. 


I  have  said  that  General  Burnside  had  no 
other  plan  than  to  attack  the  enemy  in  his  en- 
trenchments. Seemingly,  for  the  moment,  he 
lost  his  mental  equipoise.  No  impression  had 
been  made  upon  the  Confederates.  He  ordered 
Gen.  Hooker  to  advance.  That  officer,  after 
reconnoitering  the  ground,  said  that  in  his 
opinion  the  heights  could  not  be  carried. 
Burns i  a e  replied  that  the  attempt  must  be 
made.  Humphrey's  division  advanced,  but  the 
result  ended  in  failure.  The  sun  goes  down  with 
Marye's  Heights  aflame,  the  Confederate  cannon 
pouring  a  destructive  fire  upon  the  Union  troops. 
Although  a  third  of  a  century  ha«i  passed  away, 
memory  recalls  the  terrible  scene— the  clusters 
of  Union  troops  trying  to  shelter  themselves 
along  the  ravine,  the  ground  thickly  strewn 
with  inanimate  forms.  Amid  the  thun  ler  ot 
the  cannonade  and  the  rattling  of  musketry, 
heart  rending  wails  from  the  wounded  and  dy- 
ing fall  upon  my  ears.  Not  till  darkness  covers 
the  scene  can  the  ambulances  reach  them. 
More  than  12,000  Union  soldiers  have  been 
killed  or  wounded,  and  a  little  more  than  5000 
Confederates.  Although  the  result  was  so 
disastrous  General  Burnside  determined  to  re- 
new the  attempt  in  the  morning  with  the  Ninth 
Corps  which  he  would  lea  i  in  person ;  but  Sum- 
ner,  Hooker  and  Franklin  unitedly  remonstrate  1 
and  he  yielded  the  point. 

Sunday  morning  dawns  beautiful  and  clear. 
Burnside  sees  that  the  wounded  must  be  cared 
for;  humanity  demands  it.  White  flags  are 
displayed.  1'he  soldiers  on  both  sides  stack 
their  guns,  and  the  pickets  talk  familiarly  of 
the  battle.  The  Union  troops  srive  the  Confed- 
erates coffee,  and  receive  tobacco  in  return. 
During  the  day  burnside  arrives  at  the  con- 
clusion that  the  army  must  be  withdrawn,  and 
orders  are  issued  for  the  movement  to  begin 
with  the  coming  on  of  night.  Little  does  Gen. 
Lee  mistrust,  as  the  suu  goes  down  Sunday, 
that  the  Union  artillerymen  are  winding  wisps 
<>t  straw  around  the  wheels  of  the  cannon  so 


that  they  will  make  no  rumbling  as  they  cross 

the  pontoons.  The  Union  officers  issue  their 
orders  in  whispers.  Fortunately  tne  wind  is 
blowing  from  the  south,  and  no  sound  of  the 
departure  reaches  the  Confederate  ears.  When 
Monday  morning  dawns  Gen.  Lee  beholds  with 
astonishment  that  the  Union  army  is  once  more 
upon  the  northern  bank  of  the  river,  and  that 
the  pontoons  have  been  removed.  The  great 
battle  has  been  fought,  resulting  in  terrible 
slaughter,  with  nothing  gained.  It  is  the 
darkest  period  of  the  war. 

The  morning  after  the  return  of  the  army  to 
Stafford  Hills  I  visited  Col.  Harriman  ot  the 
Eleventh  New  Hampshire.  I  had  made  his  ac- 
quaintance several  years  before  the  outbreak  of 
the  Rebellion.  He  had  been  identified  with  the 
Democratic  party  in  that  state,  but  was  loyal 
and  true  to  tne  Union.  He  ban  been  a  popular 
speaker,  had  many  friends  and  was  influential 
in  raising  the  regiment.  This  was  his  first 
battle.  The  regiment  had  suffered  severely,  I 
found  him  greatly  depressed.  1  reproduce  as 
nearly  as  possible  our  conversation: 

"  Well.  Carleton,  we  have  been  in  battle,  and 
have  suffered  a  terrible  defeat.  We  may  just  as 
well  give  up  the  fight  now  as  to  go  on  with  it. 
I  tell  you,  we  can  never  conquer  the  rebels." 

"  Well,  Colonel,  I  do  not  wonder  you  feel  so. 
This  is  your  first  battle  and  your  regiment  has 
suffered  severely :  you  were  exposed  to  a  mur- 
derous fire.  We  have  lost  from  10.000  to  12,000 
and  nothing  has  been  gained.  You'  say  that  we 
may  as  well  give  up  now  as  ever :  that  we  can 
never  conquer  the  rebels.  Permit  me  to  say  to 
you  that  this  war  is  to  go  on  until  one  or  the 
other  party  is  utterly  exhausted.  It  is  a  conflict 
between  freedom  and  slavery  and  one  or  the 
other  will  triumph.  More  men  have  sot  to  be 
killed,  but  freedom  is  to  triumph  in  the  end." 

Col.  Harriman  was  silent  for  a  few  moments, 
and  then  said: 

"  Well,  I  do  not  know  but  that  you  are  right. 
So  be  it.  I  saw  brave  men  die  yesterday,  giving 
their  lives  cheerfully  for  their  country,  and  I 
am  ready  to  give  mine  if  need  be. " 

Thirty  years  have  passed  since  then,  and  it  is 
a  gratification  to  read  once  more  the  words 
written  to  The  Journal  just  after  my  interview 
with  Colonel  Harriman : 

"  It  is  no  time  to  lose  faith  and  hope.  Now  is 
the  time  to  rally  with  all  our  strength  to  sustain 
the  Government  and  the  priceless  cause  in 
which  we  are  engaged.  Let  every  patriot  stand 
like  a  rock.  The  world  has  seen  many  dark 
days.  Right  has  seemed  to  have  the  worst  of  it 
in  the  long  contest  against  wrong;  but  right 
was  born  among  the  externities  and  will  lire 
beyond  all  time.  It  is  not  defined  to  let  go  of 
the  Government — not  the  time  to  sit  disheart- 
ened and  let  the  great  cause  perish  by  default." 


CHARLES    F.    W.    ARCHER. 


62 


CAPTAIN  MAGNITZKY. 


In  a  quiet  office  in  Court  street,  up  one  flight, 
where  the  blazing  cannel  coal  splutters  and 
«rackles  socially  in  the  wide,  open  fire  place, 
its  dancing,  flickering  light  illumining  the 
titles  of  many  a  staid  volume  of  Metcalf  or 
Gray,  or  Coke  or  Blackstone.  the  writer  found 
an  exceedingly  interesting  old  soldier. 
There  was  no  mistaking  the  erect,  military  car- 
riage, though  the  uniform  was  long  since  dis- 
carded. , 

Retired  because  of  wounds,  says  the  army 
register,  and  by  no  means  an  old  man  yet.  Cap- 
tain Gustave  Magnitzky  is  the  name  of  this  quiet 
gentleman.  Sergeant  Magnitzky  it  was,  when 
more  than  thirty  years  ago,  with  his  fellow 
German  Turners  of  Company  C,  Twentieth,  he 
scaled  the  height  of  Ball's  Bluff,  up  the  narrow 
foot  path,  where  but  one  could  go  alone,  with 
the  possibility  of  a  whizzing  rifle  bullet  at  any 
moment  from  the  lofty  crest  above. 

"I  suppose  it  was  only  eighty  or  ninety  feet 
str?  ight  up,  but  I  remember  I  thought  it  full 
two  hundred  when  I  came  down  over  it  that 
•evening,"  said  the  Captain,  with  a  laugh,  in  his 
pleasantly  accentuated  tones. 

"  I  will  not  forget  that  battle."  he  continue!, 
"for  it  was  there  that  I  was  first  laid  out  with 
the  dead." 

In  1860  he  came  from  Prussia  to  this  country 
to  escape  a  draft  for  the  Prussian  army,  ar- 
riving here  just  in  time  to  plunge  into  our  four 
Tears'  war. 

To-day  he  is  tne  only  survivor  of  all  the  com- 
missioned officers  of  the  Twentieth  who  went 
through  the  entire  service  of  the  regiment  and 
was  in  every  battle  borne  upon  its  tattered 
-colors  save  one— "Ream's  Station." 


Of  21  officers  of  the  Twentieth  who  crossed 
the  Rapidau  on  the  3d  and  4th  of  May.  1864. 
three  only  crossed  the  James  on  the  17th  of 
June,  and  Capt.  Magnitzky  was  the  only  one 
left  in  the  October  following. 

For  six  weeks  after  Hatcher's  Run  he  com- 
manded the  Twentieth,  all  other  officers  above 
his  rank  being  disabled,  and  in  that  engage- 
ment led  his  comrades  in  a  daring  charge,  rout- 
ing out  a  nest  of  rebels. 

It  was  a  fascination  to  sit  in  the  tire  light  as 
the  gloaming  drew  on  and  listen  to  the  Captain's 
story  of  his  first  battle  as  he  gives  it  below. 
Said  the  Captain : 

The  Twentieth  lacked  the  coherency  of  the 
other  regiments  sent  forward  at  the  time  for 
this  reason:  Abraham  Lincoln  called  for  75,- 
000  men,  and  when  that  quota  was  filled  there 
were  here  and  there  a  number  of  scattered  com- 
panies in  excess  of  the  call. 

These  companies  were  kept  together.  Thn 
German  Turnverein  of  Boston  had  voted  to 
raise  a  company,  but  there  were  so  many 
Turners  who  wanted  to  go  that  they  easily  filled 
two  commands  instead  of  one.  The  men  were 
scholars  as  well  as  gymnasts. 

We  had  two  companies  of  rough-and-ready 
fellows— "Fort  Hill  boys"  and  "North  Enders" 
— but  good  lighters.  Our  men  were  scattered 
far  and  wide,  from  Nan  tucket  to  Cambridge. 

But  we  had  splendid  officers  from  the  start- 
most  all  Harvard  men — each  one  a  gallant 
soldier.  They  proved  their  courage  at  Ball's 
Bluff. 

"We  got  to  Washington  on  the  7th  of  Septem- 

t ,  witn  500  or  600  men,  but  our  ranks  were 


64 


STORIES    OF    OUR    SOLDI  KKS. 


subsequently  filled  up  while  at  Camp  Kalwama, 
On  the  16th  of  September  we  pitched  tents  two 
miles  from  Poolosville,  on  the  road  to  Edwards 
Ferry,  a  mile  and  a  half  below.  With  the  Nine- 
teenth Massachusetts  and  Seventh  Michigan, 
who  joined  as,  we  established  Camp  Benton, 
the  headquarters  of  General  Lander's  Brigade 
in  Stone's  " Observation  Corps"  on  the  Upper 
Potomac. 

It  was  a  beautiful  situation  naturally,  but  we 
had  many  alarms  and  occasional  stray  shoot- 
ing:. Most  of  the  time  we  were  on  detached 
service. 

On  the  afternoon  before  Ball's  Bluff  four  of 
our  companies  fell  in  with  arms  and  knapsacks 
and  marched  out,  leaving:  the  camp  in  charge  of 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Palfrey.  Our  number  was 
subsequently  increased  to  seven  companies. 
We  were  marched  down  to  Edwards  Ferry, 
then  back  up  the  left  bank  of  the  Potomac  four 
or  five  miles  till  a  halt  was  ordered. 

At  about  midnight  our  boys  began  embark- 
ing in  scows  and  were  ferried  over  to  Harrison's 
Island.  The  Fifteenth  Massachusetts  preceded 
us  and  crossed  to  the  Virginia  shore  soon  after 
midnight,  followed  by  I  and  D  of  the  Twen- 
tieth. 

They  were  sent  on  a  scout  to  develop  the 
country  and  discover  the  hiding  place  of  the 
rebels.  It  was  a  beautiful  evening— perfect  Oc- 
tober weather. 

Our  turn  to  go  came  in  the  early  morning.  All 
through  the  forenoon  the  scow  made  its  tripa 
Once  landed  on  the  farther  side,  the  sharp  bluff 
towered  sheer  and  steep  above  us.  The  top 
was  only  to  be  reached  by  a  winding  footpath, 
up  which  we  scrambled  one  at  a  time.  Had  the 
rebels  been  on  that  crest,  they  might  have 
easily  picked  us  off  oy  detail,  man  by  man,  and 
not  one  of  us  could  have  reached  tbe  summit. 

Happily— perhaps  unhappily— they  were  not 
there.  Well,  we  assembled  rapidly  on  the  bluff, 
and  formed  two  lines  of  battle  not  far  from  the 
edge  with  two  mountain  howitzers,  and  a 
rifled  cannon  from  a  Rhode  Island  battery.  I 
think,  in  our  front.  1  think  it  was  11  o'  slock 
before  we  all  got  over. 

Companies  A  and  G  held  the  centre  and  the 
front  line  was  in  a  very  exposed  position  and 
Baxter's  First  Zouaves  from  Philadelphia  were 
on  our  left 

We  saw  no  enemy  and  we  just  laid  down  ana 
enjoyed  ourselves  wnile  we  were  waiting. 

We  decorated  an  apple  tree  on  our  right  with 
our  overcoats  and  extra  accoutrements,  hang- 


ing them  in  fantastic  festoons.  It  WM  quite  a 
plcnio  for  a  little  while.  True,  there  were  dis- 
turbing shots  from  beyond  those  trees  which 
bid  the  spires  of  Leesburz  from  us  in  the  direc- 
tion the  Fifteenth  had  gone.  Toward  no«n  the 
firing  was  sharp  and  rapid,  but  our  boys  ap- 
peared to  be  holding  them.  The  day  was 
warm,  the  soft  balmy  air  of  the  Indian  summer 
was  enticing,  and  so  we  lay  in  the  shade  of  our 
oddly-hung  tree  and  waited,  little  dreaming? 
how  joyously  "the  Johnnies  "were  to  appreciate 
our  festoonery  and  take  complete  possession  of 
it  before  nightfall. 

We  left  them  the  whole  of  it  and  glad  enough 
were  some  of  us  to  get  off  even  so  ligLtiy  a» 
that 

The  shot  sare  coming  nearer  now. 

Attention  1 

Every  man  grasos  his  Enfield. 

There  is  a  succession  of  quick,  light  puffs 
above  the  trees,  and  of  sharp  reports  in  such 
rapid  continuity  as  to  give  a  ragged,  rattling 
musketry  fire. 

There  they  come— the  fellows  of  the  Fifteenth 
—out  from  under  the  white  smoke  cloud  that 
veils  the  woods.  They  fall  back  steadily  along 
the  cart  path  to  our  position  on  the  bluff. 

We  had  in  front  of  us  an  ooen  field,  bounded 
upon  its  farther  edge  by  a  bit  of  woods  which 
described  the  are  of  a  circle  from  our  extreme 
left  round  to  the  right  It  was  not  over  200 
yards  from  where  we  stood  ou  the  edge  of  the 
bluff  to  the  belt  of  timber  on  the  longest  radios 
of  the  arc. 

In  front  of  us  was  the  short  slope  of  brown 
grass,  dotted  here  and  there  with  the  gay  tinted 
leaves  of  autumn.  Behind  us,  just  over  that 
edge,  straight  down  ninety  feet,  was  the  river. 
The  sun's  rays  were  as  warm  as  in  midsummer 
making  coats  unbearable,  and  we  stood  shoulder 
to  shoulder  without  them,  the  sloping  visors  of 
our  caps  pulled  low  over  our  eyes,  as  we  anx- 
iously looked  for  the  enemy. 

There  was  a  slight  lull  as  the  Fifteenth  came 
back  to  us  and  took  position,  1  think,  on  our 
right.  I  remember  Gen.  Bafcer.  He  looked  like 
a  very  pleasant  old  style  of  gentleman  as  he 
came  no  to  Col.  Lee  and  said ;  "  Colonel,  vou 
have  a  fine  line  of  battle  here."  He  compliment 
ed  the  Twentieth  on  its  good  appearance. 

I  guess  it  must  have  been  3  o'clock  when  the 
rebels  opened  a  brisk  fire  on  us  from  the  woods 
and  the  battle  was  on.  There  were  only  two 
shots  from  our  mountain  howitzers  before  they 
were  disabled. 


CAPTAIN    GUSTAVE    MAGN1TZKY. 


66 


STORIES    OF    OUR    SOLDIERS. 


"  I  hare  been  in  over  80  battles,"  bat  I  never 
knew  such  absolutely  vicious  firing:  as  that  at 
Ball's  Bluff.  The  air  was  just  chock  full  of  bul- 
lets. It  seemed  like  hell  let  loose  and  there  we 
stood,  just  simply  targets  for  the  rebel  riflemen. 
The  nearest  approach  that  we  ever  had  to  that 
firing  was  at  Gettysburg,  but  even  tbat  was 
nothing  so  vicious  as  this. 

I  remember  after  Baker  fell,  when  the  order 
came  to  cease  firing  and  retreat  to  the  foot  of 
the  bluff  to  avoid  further  slaughter.  There 
wasn't  much  retreat  about  it  It  was  just 
a  scramble— any  way  to  get  down. 

"It  was  about  6  o'clock  when  I  was  wounded 
in  the  leg.  I  found  1  could  move  and  I  went 
right  over  the  edge  of  the  bluff.  If  it  hadn't 
been  for  the  hanging  bushes  there  that  1  clung 
hold  of  going  down,  I  would  have  come  down 
pretty  hard,  I  can  tell  you.  1  half  slid  and  half 
fell  till  I  reached  the  foot.  I  recall,  as  we  scat- 
tered, one  fellow  who  acted  as  though  he  was 
drunk.  Somebody  hit  him  in  the  head  with  a 
clubbed  musket  and  he  ran  off.  yelling  that  IM 
was  killed.  That  was  the  last  I  saw  of  him." 

There  was  a  great  crowd  of  our  fellows  under 
the  bluff,  and  the  scow  was  just  shoving  off 
with  a  load.  I  managed  to  get  into  it  in  some 
way  and  they  pushed  us  over  the  river  to  tho 
island. 

The  rebels  came  up  to  the  edge  of  the  bluff 
and  we  could  see  them  firing  down  upon  our 
poor  fellows. 

The  scow  went  across  again  and  there  was  a 
grand  rush  for  it.  Seventy  or  eighty  men  got 
in,  and  the  old  thing  was  overloa  led. 
They  pushed  out  into  the  stream,  the  rebels 
firmer  at  them,  and  ha  I  got  some  way  from 
shore  when  all  of  a  sudden  I  saw  them  all  go 
over  into  the  water. 

You  see  there  was  so  much  excitement,  so 
much  jumping  about  to  escape  being  hit,  that 
the  men  crowded  too  much  to  one  side  and 
careened  the  scow,  which  quickly  filled  and 
sank. 

Over  they  went  into  the  river. 

I  never  saw  anything  like  it  before  in  my  life, 

Itsenmed  like  a  great  rolling  ball  of  humanity 
in  mid  stream.  Each  man  held  on  to  the  other 
to  save  himself.  They  held  together  for  a  mo- 
ment and  then  gradually  drifted  apart,  some 
individually  succeeding  in  getting  ashore  and 
others  going  down  the  stream  out  of  sight 

I  saw  Lieutenants  Wesselhoeft  and  Babo  di- 
vest themselves  of  their  clothing  on  the  turther 


side  and  jump  in  to  swim  the  river  In  company. 
They  had  to  stem  a  cold  swift  current,  two  hun- 
dred feet  wide.  All  the  time  the  rebels  were 
cracking  at  them— firing  at  every  head  they 
could  see  in  the  river.  The  Lieutenants  got 
part  way  across  and  then,  before  anybody  could 
get  near  them.  I  saw  them  throw  up  their  hands 
and  disappear  beneath  the  surface. 

I  remember  how.  in  the  middle  of  the  night, 
Captain  Crowninshield,  with  Lieutenants  Hal- 
lowell  and  Charles  A.  Whittier,  with  Captain 
William  F.  Bartlett— Frank,  we  always  called 
aim— who  went  through  so  much  afterward 
and  became  a  General,  and  Lieutenant  Henry 
L.  Abbott,  afterward  killed,  came  to  us  on  the 
island.  Captain  Crowninshield  stripped  and 
swam  tbe  river,  which  appeared  to  have  risen 
in  some  sort  of  freshet,  for  there  were  lots  of 
logs  and  stumps  which  had  been  brought  down 
and  were  left  sticking  up  with  their  jagged 
points  just  above  water,  rendering  it  a  very  risky 
tiling  to  swim  through  them  at  12  o'clock  at 
night  But  that's  what  the  Captain  did,  and 
some  of  the  others  with  him. 

Captain  Bartlett  found  a  small  skiff,  and  got 
quite  a  lot  of  the  boys  over  in  that,  beside 
saving  himself.  The  skiff  had  been  sunk,  and 
he  got  a  negro  to  raise  it  for  him  and  tip  the 
water  out 

The  next  funny  thing  that  I  remember  was 
my  fteing  laid  out  with  the  dead.  It  happened 
in  this  way. 

After  my  wound  was  dressed,  it  coming  on  to 
rain,  a  rubber  blanket  was  put  over  me  and  I 
was  taken  to  a  shanty  where  the  wounded  and 
dead  were  laid. 

1  was  completely  done  up  and  slept  soundly. 
By  mistake  my  bearers  carried  me  too  far  over 
the  line  and  deposited  me  with  the  dead. 

My  fellow-sleepers  gave  no  sound  and  1  slept 
blissfully  unconscious  of  my  surroundings  until 
there  stole  upon  me  an  indistinct,  confused 
sense  that  somebody  was  standing  over  me  and 
talking. 

"  1  had  a  dim  consciousness  that  some  one  was 
saying  'poor  fellows,  they  will  never  wake 
again,'  something  like  that,  when  the  rubber 
blanket  over  my  face  was  raised  and  I  lookeu 
straight  into  the  eyes  of  a  man.  I  was  broaU 
awake  then,  1  can  tell  you. 

"  Well,  if  you  ever  saw  a  man  jump — that  lei- 
low  did.  He  dropped  the  blanket  on  my  face 
and  ran  off.  Very  soon  he  came  back  and 
brought  another.  They  were  soldiers,  and  my 
discoverer  was  so  happy  at  finding  me  alive, 
that  he  forced  me  to  take  a  great,  bier,  new  plug 
of  tobacco. 

"  We  were  all  sent  back  to  the  Maryland  side 
that  night.  General  Lander  was  wounded  the 
uext  day  at  Edwards's  Ferry,  and  soon  after,  a 
whole  division  was  thrown  across  and  recap- 
tured a  number  of  prisoners.  It  was  perfectly 
easy  lor  us  to  have  crossed  at  Conrad's  Ferry. 
As  to  who  was  to  blame,  the  matter  has  never 
been  decided  by  an  official  court" 


SERGEANT  H'GINNIS. 


Ah.  those  far-away  gloaming  hours  when,  with 
the  fading  of  the  aftermath  we  stood  with  faces 
flattened  on  the  window  pane  peering  down  the 
dusky  street  for  the  first  flash  of  the  lamplight- 
er's cheery  torch  in  the  gathering  gloom. 

The  jolly,  light-hearted  fellow— when  was  a 
lamplighter  known  to  be  anything  else?  What 
a  fascination  there  was  in  his  coming  and  going 
and  with  what  dextrous  twist  the  turn-cock 
sprung  open  and  presto,  the  jet  burst  into  flame. 
There  is  just  the  glimpse  of  a  smiling  face.  a 
nod  and  he's  gone,  but  he  has  left  the  quiet 
street  the  brighter  for  his  coming. 

He  is  going  fast  like  Tony  Weller's  post-boys 
in  the  ever  increasing  glare  of  the  great  arc 
light,  but  happily  for  the  coming  generation, 
the  lamplighter  has  by  no  means  survived  his 
usefulness  in  Boston  town. 

To  find,  therefore,  after  a  long  search  for  that 
gallant  soldier,  that  Captain  William  A.  Me 
Oinnis.  the  jolly  Sergeant  of  the  Fighting  Nine 
teenth  is  to-day  devoting  his  attention  to  bright, 
ening  the  many  dark  nooks  and  corners  round 
old  Fort  Hill  after  nightfall,  just  as  his  merry, 
jocular  spirit  lightened  the  gloom  of  many  a 
sad  hour  in  stockade  and  hospital,  struck  the 
writer  with  singular  appropriateness  as  he 
•wended  his  way  down  toward  India  square  in 
his  search  for  the  Captain. 

It  was  early  candle  light,  but  the  evening  was 
dark  and  rainy  as  the  reporter  turned  into 
Batterymarcb  street,  after  a  fruitless  quest 
through  old  Bread  street,  its  numerous  side 
lanes  and  by-ways,  and  was  rewarded  by  a 
bright  flash  dead  ahead. 

There  was  the  Captain  at  last,  sure  enough. 

"Hi.  Captain  McGinuis!" 


"Aye,  aye,  sir,  what's  wanted? "  was  the 
cheerful  reply  to  the  reporter's  hail. 

It  was  a  sturdy  figure  of  generous  proportions 
that  halted  with  soldierly  promptness  within 
the  circle  of  light  from  the  street  lantern  above 
him. 

"Can  I  tell  you  something  of  my  experience 
tn  the  war?  Well.  I  can."  said  he. 

"Will  you?" 

"Ah!  that  I  don't  know." 

"  Oh.  come :  a  man  like  vou  is  always  ready 
with  a  story," 

"But  how  shall  1  begin?' 

"  Why.  that's  easy :  where  .do  we  find  the  next 
lamp?" 

And  so  threading  our  way  in  and  out  through 
the  rain,  back  and  forth  criss-cross  over  the 
muddy  streets,  now  down  a  deserted  wharf 
among  the  shipping,  and  again  in  and  out 
behind  great  silent  warehouses  we  took  a  most 
fascinating  ramble,  the  Captain  leaving  his 
cheerful  light  behind  him  as  he  went,  and  his 
companion  enjoying  to  the  full  a  round  of  yarn 
spinning  from  his  fund  of  reminiscence. 

"  I  don't  Know  about  Captain  Jack  Adams's 
Thanksgiving  turuips,  but  1  can  tell  you  of 
what  we  had  for  a  Fourth  of  July  dinner  down 
in  Danville." 

" Let's  begin  with  the  axe-handle  brigade,' 
Captain?" 

"  Oh.  yes,  that's  so.  Well,  to  start  with,  you 
see  I  was  born  and  brought  up  in  Boston,  living 
down  on  Fort  Bill  about  all  mv  life  before  the 
war. 

"  1  just  took  a  notion  and  went  up  and  enlist- 
ed in  Capt.  Ansel  D.  Wass's  Boston  Tiger  Fire 
Zouaves.  Company  K,  Nineteenth  Massachu- 
setts. We  went  into  camp  at  Lynnfield.  Our 
uniform  was  a  regular  zouave  cap.  jacket,  sash 


68 


STORIES    OF    OUK    SOLU1EUS. 


and  trousers  then,  and  we  kept  it  for  some  little 
time:  I  wore  it  at  Camp  Benton,  where  I  was  a 
Sergeant 

"Yes,  I  had  command  of  the  axe-handle  bri- 
gade. It  was  made  up  of  a  detail  of  ten  men 
from  each  company,  with  a  Corporal  in  charge 
Of  each  squad.  I  put  the  Corporals  in  as  cap- 
tains,  and  Charlie  Newhall  of  Saugus,  he  was 
my  adjutant." 

*  Was  he  a  Sergeant,  Captain?  " 

"Oh.no.  he  was  just  one  of  the  'meres,'" 
with  a  laugh, 

"Mere  what?' 

'*  Mere  private. 

•'You  see  we  had  a  Second  Lieutenant  who 
felt  pretty  big  over  his  new  straps  and  nobby 
uniform.  Oh,  he  was  quite  a  swell.  So  one  day 
he  had  visitors  and  one  of  the  boys  passed 
them.  A  lady  asked  him  who  the  man  was. 

"He;  that  lellpw?'  says  the  Lieutenant, 
'oh,  he  is  a  mere  private,  you  know.' 

"Well,  the  boys  caught  on  to  it.  and  all  high 
privates  after  that  were  '  meres.' 

"  Devereux.  the  Colonel,  was  a  great  stickler 
for  proprieties.  '  He  always  addressed  the 
Second  'Luffs'  as  Mr.  so  and  so.  And  when  I 
got  into  the  woods  I'd  go  round  to  all  the 
chopping  parties  and  address  the  Corporal  like 
this :  '  Mr.  Hood,  how  are  yon  getting  on 
to-day? ' 

"  We  had  the  best  drilled  regiment  In  the  bri 
gade,  and  the  boys  all  caught  on  to  my 'axe- 
handle  brigade.'  They'd  march  in  like  veterans. 
Charlie  Newhall  would  form  the  line,  and  then 
at  the  command  'present  axes'  every  blade 
would  come  flashing  up  and  be  presented  square 
to  the  front.  Then  I'd  take  command. 

"  But  as  for  the  orders  of  the  day ;  some  of  'em 
would  hardly  do  in  print.  You  see  the  officers 
are  most  all  alive  yet 

"  It  was  while  I  was  at  Camp  Benton  that  1 
saw  General  Lander  wounded. 

"The  regiment  had  been  picketing  the  tow 
path  of  the  canal  along  the  Potomac  River  down 
to  Edwards  Ferry  and  Company  K.  Nineteenth, 
was  detailed  to  guard  the  ferry. 

"  Major  Kice  came  down  while  we  were  there 
and  said  to  Captain  Wass.  '  Captain,  send  Ser- 
geant McGinnis  with  three  men  down  to  Goose 
Creek  on  picket.' 

"  Well.  I  went  down  with  three  of  the  boys 
till  we  came  to  the  creek— just  a  little  stream 
making  up  from  the  Potomac.  There  was  a 
covered  bridge  and  we  went  over  on  it  and  up 
the  hill  on  the  other  side. 

"There  was  a  small  little  house  there  and  we 
went  into  it.  There  was  a  man  in  there  all 
doubled  and  twisted  up  with  rheumatism.  His 
hands  were  all  curled  up.  There  was  an  old 
man  with  him.  He  was  awful  scared.  He  said 
the  women  had  all  run  away  and  the  able-bodied 
men  were  all  gone  to  Richmond. 

*  Says   I.  '  Did  you    see  any  rebels    about?' 
'  No.  1  didn't,'  says  he.    but  he  was  that  fright- 
ened that  he  couldn't  tell  us  much  any  way. 

'  So  we  went  ouc  and  I  was  marching  ahead 
along  the  road  when  all  of  a  sudden  I  heard 
somebody  say. 

"  'Who  comes  there?' 


"  1  wasn't  looking  for  any  rebels  and  so  I 
straightened  up,  winked  back  at  my  three  boys, 
and  says  I— 

"  ' W  ho  dares  thus  to  accost  Sergeant  William 
A,  McGinnis,'  swelling  up  just  like  that 

"Begorra.  the  next  minute  I  heard  a  cap  snap 
and  then  another  Then  a  gun  went  off.  my 
three  pickets  flew  for  the  woods,  and  I  just 
dropped  flat  to  the  ground.  The  shots  flew 
thick  and  fast  over  my  head.  1  worked  back 
down  over  the  hill  to  where  our  troops  were.  I 
jumped  a  Virginia  fence  as  the  balls  whizzed 
by  spatting  into  it,  splitting  the  wood  and  came 
full  upon  Lander. 

'  He  said,  '  Who  are  yon?' 

'I  told  him  my  name  and  regiment 

'  Says  he, '  Who  are  those  over  there?1 
'  Says  I,  '  fhat's  the  line  of  battle.' 
'And  he  said.  'What  are  they  doing  there, 
they  ought  to  come  up  here.'  or  something  like 
that    We  were  right  between  the  two  lines  of 
battle,  and  zip!    zip!  how  the  bullets  flew.    A 
whole  brigade  was  firing  then. 

'*  Just  as  Lander  said  that  the  men  ought  not 
to  be  where  they  were,  a  bullet  struck  him  in 
the  lesr.  It  seemed  to  me  that  I  could  hear  it  as 
it '  socked  '  into  the  boot  leather,  carrying  scrap 
and  all  with  it 

"  I  said :  '  General,  can  I  be  of  any  assistance 
to  you?'  He  said:  'No.  It  is  well  enough:' 
something  like  that.  His  orderly  came  UP  and 
helped  him  to  the  rear,  and  that  was  the  wound 
from  which  General  Lander  died.  He  went  to 
the  rear  bimselt  with  the  assistance  of  his 
Orderly." 

Just  then  Captain  McGinnis  and  I  emerged 
upon  Fort  Hill  square.  "Hold  on,"  said  he,  as 
the  ready  torch  went  UD  to  the  waiting  lantern 
overhead,  "and  I  will  show  you  how  an  Andrew 
sharoshooter  popped  a  rebel  in  the  eye." 

Down  came  the  torch  to  the  wire  fence. 
"You  see,"  said  the  Captain,  "  the  sharpshooter 
had  a  telescope  rifle.  It  weighed  80  pounds, 
and  he  rested  it  just  like  this  on  the  Virginia 
fence,  and  says  he  to  me,  '  Do  you  see  that  reb 
over  there?  I'm  going  to  hit  him  in  the  e»e.' 
He  fired,  over  went  the  reb.  and  when  they 
went  up  to  the  '  Johnny '  afterward  they  found 
that  the  ball  had  cut  the  vizor  of  his  cap  and 
gone  in  just  under  the  fellow's  eye.  fare 
enough." 

Happily  for  the  brave  fireman  standing  across 
the  square,  the  Captain's  torch  was  non-ex- 
plosive and  carried  no  death  dealing  missile  to 
him  to  complete  the  graphic  recital 

"You  were  hit  yourself,  weren't  you,  Captain, 
once  or  twice,"  I  asked. 

"Yes,  I  got  it,"  with  a  shrug,  indicating  that 
it  was  quite  a  trifling  matter. 

"1  was  the  right  guide  in  Company  K.  made 
First  Sergeant  on  the  field.  Our  coys  were  in  a 
little  clearing  in  the  woods  like.  I  saw  a  man 
opposite  me  aiming  right  for  me,  so  I  took  aim 
for  him.  I  fired,  and  as  the  smoke  cleared  away 
I  couldn't  see  that  man  anywhere,  but  at  tbe 


CAPTAIN    W.    A.    McGINNIS. 


SERGEANT    McGINNIS. 


HIS    AXE    BRIGADE. 


SERGEANT    M  GINNIS. 


71 


same  moment  I  felt  a  hall  strike  me  in  the  left 
breast  near  tne  shoulder. 

"I  thought  at  first  it  was  the  arm  itself  that 
•was  struck  at  the  time. 

"  Well.  I  went  back  and  met  an  officer  that  I 
knew  right  off  was  a  Surgeon  by  his  straps. 
'Doctor,'  *ays  I.  '  I've  a  bullet  in  me  back.  Just 
cut  it  out  for  me,  will  you? '  He  directed  me  to 
the  field  hospital.  an<i  I  went  right  on  to  the  op- 
erating table,  and  out  it  came. 

"  There  was  a  Sergeant  there  with  a  bullet  in 
his  jaw.  and  he  says  to  me,  "  I'd  like  to  have 
your  nerve.1  '  Why  wouldn't  you? '  says  L  But 
I  knew  that  ball  had  been  laying  so  long  in 
grease  that  it  would  not  do  me  any  good  to  have 
it  stay  too  long  in  my  body. 

"  Well,  alter  my  wound  was  dressed  I  went 
into  the  temporary  hospital  in  the  rear.  It  was 
a  small  little  house,  and  there  I  found  Captain 
Harry  riaie  sitting  on  the  floor. 

"  He  had  oeen  shot  through  the  mouth,  and 
the  ball  knocked  out  every  tooth  he  had  in  his 
head— nice  strong  teeth  they  were,  too.  His  lips 
were  all  swelled  up  so  he  could  hardly  open 
them,  and  his  face  was  all  puffed  out.  He  was 
trying  to  drink  some  tea. 


"  1  wanted  to  cheer  the  boys  up  a  bit.  and 
when  1  looked  at  him  and  saw  the  queer  picture 
he  made,  says  I :  '  Oh.  Captain,  how  I'd  just  like 
to  kiss  you  now.' 

"  Well,  if  you  could  see  them  laugh,  and  poor 
Captain  Hale  couldn't  keep  from  laughing, 
though  he  could  hardly  move  his  lips.  He 
could  only  just  sputter,  but  I  was  sorry  after- 
ward, because  it  put  him  in  so  much  pain. 

"  There  lay  Hincks  on  the  floor,  and  I  believed 
him  dead.  I  never  expected  to  see  that  man 
alive  again.  He  was  shot  through  the  body  and 
terribly  wounded." 

Colonel  Hincks  was  reported  killed  in  this 
battle,  and  on  the  20th  of  September,  1862,  The 
Journal  published  an  obituary  notice  of  him. 
payine  tribute  to  his  worth  and  bravery. 

"And  the  second  wound,  Captain?" 
'I  got  that  at  Gettysburg.    I  was  the  First 
Sergeant  of  the  right  flank  company  of  the  Nine- 
teenth Massachusetts,  the  first  man  in  the  regi- 
ment 

"  It  was  the  third  day's  fight,  and  right  in  front 
of  us  was  Pickett's  Division,  coming  for  us  like 
a  wave  of  the  sea,  in  triple  lines  of  gray.  I  re- 
member just  now  they  looked  coming  up  there, 
with  all  our  artillery  trained  on  them — a  hun- 
dred and  fifty  (runs,  all  flaming  at  once,  pouring 
an  awful  tire  into  them,  and  1  remember  how 
those  three  lines  wavered  and  broke,  retreated 
and  then  melted  entirely  away. 

"Well,  just  at  that  minute  when  they  had 
broken  1  hops  up  on  a  little  ridge  there  was  in 
front  of  us,  and  I  shouts— 

"  'They  ve  broke,  Doysl  they're  running  I  There 
they  go  I  Tare  and  'onns,  see  them  run" 

"And  the  very  next  minute  1  got  it  A  bullet 
went  right  through  the  back  of  my  neck." 

Ah,  that  was  a  grand  charge.  Captain :  the 
most  thrilling  ot  the  war ;  those  fellows  coming 
for  almost  a  mile  across  that  cannon-swept, 
open  country." 


"Grand,  is  it?  Yen.  sir.  they  could  fight.  I 
wouldn't  care  to  fight  them  again,"  said  the 
Captain. 

'  I  don't  remember  Jack  Adams's  Thanksgiv- 
ing Day,  as  1  told  you.  out  I  do  remember  his 
Fourth  of  July,  '64.  We  were  captured  in  front 
of  Petersburg  on  the  picket  line  of  the  Second 
Cor  PS— Hancock's. 

"We  were  advanced.  The  Sixth  Corps  lay.  1 
think,  on  our  left.  When  we  went  forward  it 
did  not,  and  that  left  a  gap  between  us. 

"'  At  any  rate  the  rebs  got  in  there  and  we 
were  gobbled.  I  was  a  Lieutenant  then  and 
had  gone  out  on  the  line.  I  had  carried  a  gun 
so  long  that  1  always  picked  up  one  before  go- 
ing into  a  fight,  and  used  to  lay  down  aud  poo 
away  with  the  boys  on  my  own  account. 

"There  was  a  little  open  space  in  front  of  us. 
and  1  was  behind  a  tree,  nice  ana  comfortable 
with  plenty  of  cartridges.  Right  across  from 
me  was  a  Johnny.  He  had  everything  fixed 
nice,  too.  with  a  little  breastwork  right  in  front 
of  him.  with  two  bits  of  board  placed  slanting 
wise  to  each  other,  and  a  small  hole  between 
them  to  poke  the  muzzle  of  his  gun  through. 
We  both  oi  us  opened  fire  on  each  otlier,  and 
lay  there  crack  ug  away  at  each  other  quite 
comfortable.  He'd  fire  at  me.  and  I'd  pop  away 
every  time  at  the  hole  where  his  gun  showed. 

"  We  had  got  quite  wrapped  up  in  it,  when  all 
of  a  sudden  the  shots  began  to  fly  rignt  at  my 
back.  Well,  1  turned  round  and  says  I,  '  What 
in  blazes  do  you  think  you're  firing  at?  You'll 
kill  your  own  men?' 

"And  then— then  I  saw  a  lot  of  men  come  run- 
ning, all  in  gray  Somebody  says,  '  Throw  down 
that  gun.  Yank.'  1  looked  ahead,  and  there 
seemed  to  be  gray  backs  all  round  us. 

"  1  walked  straight  over  across  to  where  that 
reb  lay  that  I'd  been  firing  at.  He  got  up,  and 
I  says,  '  Well,  how  do  you  like  my  shooting?  ' 
Says  be,  '  Wuz  you  the  man  that  was  firing 
agin  me? ' 

1  '  Yes,  1  was,1  says  L     '  How  did  you  like  it? ' 

'  '  Well,'  says  he.  '  you're  a  moighty  good 
shot.  Your  last  one  struck  the  end  of  one  of  my 
boards  and  canted  it  so  it  closed  up  my  hole 
right  in  front  ol  my  face.' 

"  That  fellow  turned  out  a  mean  chap,  though; 
he  beat  me  out  of  my  sugar  and  coffee." 

"  Who  were  the  men.  Captain,  that  captured 
you?" 

"  I  had  an  idea  that  they  were  some  of  Stone- 
wall's,  but  I  believe  somebody  told  us  that  we 
were  on  the  Claiborne  plantation,  and  that  they 
were  Claiborne's  men. 

"  Well,  I  had  the  queerest  feeling  come  over 
me.  I  never  felt  so  in  my  life,  and  I'll  never 
foreet  it  They  took  us  to  Libby  at  Richmond. 
and  aright  handy  way  they  had  of  searching 
ns,  too.  I  got  an  old  dressing  gown  there  from 
some  commission,  and  1  wore  that  all  through. 

"They  took  us  to  Lynchburg  and  then  to  Dan- 
ville. We  were  put  into  passenger  cars,  though 
they  were  not  Pullmans. 

"When  we  got  to  Danville,  the  guard  came  in 
and  dealt  out  a  ration  to  each  man.  He  gave  us 


72 


STORIES   OF    OUR   SOLDIERS. 


a  bit  of  corn  bread  about  as  big  as  that,."  said  the 
Captain,  indicating  just  the  palm  of  his  hand. 
"Beside  the  bread  there  was  a  small  rasher  of 
bacon. 

"Well,  Jack  Adams  and  I  hadn't  seen  a  bite  to 
eat  for  two  days. 

"I  truess  we  were  just  about  three  minutes,  not 
longer  than  that,  finishing  that  corn  bread  and 
pork.  The  bread  was  pretty  fair  We  would 
have  eaten  anything  then. 

"  But  the  next  minute  we  heard  the  yell  ot 
the  rebel  guard 

"  'Say.  you  Yanks,  them  s  four  days'  rations.' 


•"Great  scott !    What? 

"'Four  days'  rations.' 

"Then  you  ought  to  have  seen  Jack  Adam- 
and  me  look  at  each  other. 

"  How  the  boys  laughed.    They  roared. 

"And  we — well,  we  put  on  a  sickly  join.  too. 
but  it  was  the  sorriest  smile  I  ever  attempted. 

"  After  that  we  went  to  Macon,  then  to 
Charleston.  Colombia.  Goldsborough  and  Wil- 
mington. 

"  At  Charleston  we  were  put  under  fire.  That 
was  when  our  forces  shelled  the  city  ana  the 
rebs  put  a  lot  of  us  prisoners  out  in  front  within 
range,  in  the  hope  the  bombardment  would  be 
abandoned. 

"Jack  Adams  was  in  that.  lie  was  so  weak 
he  was  put  in  the  Roper  Hospital.  You  had  to 
get  a  parole  to  get  in  there.  Beside  him  there 
were  Major  Dunn.  Frank  Osborne,  the  Adju 
tant,  and  Lysander  J.  Hume. 

"  They  marched  the  rest  of  us,  quite  a  numbei 
of  hundred  men,  down  by  the  jail  and  round 
into  the  jail  yard.  The  water  stood  two  feet 
deep  in  places  in  the  yard. 

"  And  there  we  listened  to  the  music  of  Gen- 
eral Foster's  shells  bursting  over  us.  and  as  we 
stood,  we  sang  '  The  Star  Spangled  Banner. ' 

"  The  only  man  frightened  was  the  rebel 
guard  up  at  the  Roper  Hospital  when  a  big 
piece  of  a  500-pound  shell  came  down  and 


struck  the  building.    It  was   a  fine   moonlight 
night. 

" I  remember  that  ' dead  line'  at  Columbia— 
at  Camp  Sorghum.  It  was  a  bleak  place,  cold 
and  disagreeable.  There  was  no  stockade.  The 
dead  line  was  just  a  series  of  posts,  each  with  a 
little  stick  nailed  on  top  of  it.  There  were 
spaces  between  each  post. 

'Why.  i  knew  a  man  who  was  snot  and  killed 
by  simply  getting  on  that  line  without  know- 
ing it 

"  It  was  at  Columbia  that  1  got  a  pair  of  $100 
shoes.  That  was  the  price.  Coiifederata  I  got 
them  from  a  sutler  by  giving  him  an  order  on 
the  paymaster  for  $50  in  greenbacks.  I  left 
them  at  Annapolis,  when  we  were  exchanged, 
for  a  $45  suit  that  could  be  bought  for  $10  now. 

"  "We  were  finally  exchanged  in  March.  '66, 
at  Wilmington,  N.  C.  They  marched  us  out,  a 
thousand  of  as.  between  two  lines— a  line  of 
rebels  and  a  line  of  our  troops.  General  Terry's 
men.  As  we  passed  through  we  were  counted, 
and  somebody  gave  us  a  great  pot  of  black 
coffee,  strong  enough  to  keep  you  awake  for  two 


"  Well,  do  you  know  that  our  stomachs  were 
so  empty,  we  had  so  little  to  eat.  that  that  coffee 
actually  made  Jack  Adams  and  me  drunk. 

"That's  a  fact. 

"  I  went  through  a  srood  deal  with  the  rehs," 
said  the  Captain  reflectively,  as  we  lit  our  last 
lamp  and  turned  homeward  through  India 
street.  "  All  of  my  hair  came  out  at  '  Camp 
Sonrhum."  I  remember  a  rebel  who  came  in, 
and.  alter  looking  at  me.  said  it  was  a  shame: 
that,  if  he  could,  he  would  let— 

•Thet  yar  po'  old  man  go  free.' 

Then  1  turned  a  hand-spring  right  before  bis 
face.  I  wasn't  so  oM  as  he  thought.  I  wan 
totally  blind  for  a  long  time.  I  don't  know 
whether  that  was  due  to  eating  rice  or  not.  1 
haven't  talked  as  much  war  as  this  to  anybody 
for  a  long  time.  Goodnight" 


THE  MAJOR  TELLS  OF  BALL'S  BLOFF. 


Midnight  I 

The  face  of  Ball's  TOroS  veiled  by  the  tree  tops 
and  rich  sombre  foliage,  bathed  in  the  radiance 
of  the  bright  October  moon,  presented  a  fasci 
natintr  succession  of  lunar  shadows,  amid  whicl 
exposed  bits  of  rock  and  greensward  stood  forth 
boldly  revealed  in  the  soft  white  glare. 

A  dark  shadow  glides  across  the  rippling  sui 
face  of  the  Potomac  sparkling  in  the  moonlight 

It  is  a  boat  conveying  Capt.  Chase  Philbricfc 
and  eight  or  ten  stalwart  fellows  of  the  Fif 
teenth  and  some  of  the  Twentieth,  bound  upon 
a  most  romantic  mission— a  nocturnal  scout  t< 
penetrate  the  mysteries  of  those  gloomy  wooiL- 
beyond  the  Virginia  shore 

Silence  reigns  supreme. 

The  boat  glides  into  the  shadow  of  the  Olufl 
Mid  is  lost  to  sight. 

A  winding  foot  oath,  blocked  here  and  there 
with  many  a  moss-grown  trunK.  ascends  a  nar 
row  ravine,  and  thence  by  a  sloping  plateau  to 
the  crest  of  the  bluff  itself.  In  places  it  is  * 
stiffish  climb  over  the  precipitous  rock  face. 

What  will  they  wake  up— UD  there  at  the  top- 
pickets? 

The  men  tread  lightly  on  tip-toe,  following 
the  Captain.  No  talking,  except  for  his  whis 
pered  direction  now  and  then.  What  strange 
things  one  sees  in  the  woods  at  this  weira  hour 
Every  stump  has  its  individual  personality 

Hah  I 

What  was  that? 

Silence!  the  whole  squad. 

Was  it  the  gleam  of  the  picket's  rifle? 

Pshaw!    No. 

Only  the  glinting   of   a  moonbeam    across    a 


oriffht  bit  of  hornblende  away  up  there  on  the 
oliff. 

Whirr !  Away  flies  a  frightened  covey,  startled 
from  their  lair  by  these  nocturnal  intruders. 

Another  haltl  No  response  from  the  pickets. 
Then  they  go  on.  Involuntarily  one  looks  for 
the  tall  form  of  old  Lcatherstocking  stalking: 
there  in  the  advance,  as  now  the  dusky  figures 
steal  out  in  tlio  moonlight  upon  a  bare  bit  of 
ledge  to  gaze  down  upon  the  silent  tree  tons 
below  them  swaying  in  the  night  breeze,  and 
then  vanish  from  sight  in  impenetrable  shadow. 

The  too  was  reached,  to  find  no  pickets  there. 

The  spell  was  on  the  young  scouts,  as,  upon 
working  throush  the  belt  of  woods  back  from 
the  oluff.  they  saw  beyond  the  next  clearing,  in 
the  interstices  of  a  row  of  trees  upon  the  ridge, 
through  which  the  moonbeams  glanced  weirdly, 
what  each  fully  believed  to  be  the  snowy  can- 
vas of  the  rebel  tents  surely. 

Alas,  a  ghostly  encampment  it  proved  to  be. 
Out  back  came  the  scouts  with  their  exciting 
report. 

"Give  us  a  memory  picture,  tfeneral,''  said 
the  reporter,  approaching  the  old  Major  of  the 
famous  Fifteenth— "  Your  story  of  the  battle 
that  followed  the  dawn." 

State  Auditor  Kimball  looked  up  frpm  his 
desk,  in  some  surprise  but  readily  complied. 

"  I  can  give  you  the  key  to  the  whole  of  it." 
said  he.  ''Lieutenant  Colonel  George  H.  Ward 
of  the  Fifteenth  Massachusetts,  with  the  five 
companies  of  the  left  wing  of  the  regiment, 
who  was  under  explicit  instructions  from 
General  Charles  P.  Stone  to  do  so,  never  occu- 
pied Smart's  Mill  on  the  Virginia  shore ,  as  he 
was  ordered.  Had  he  done  so  th  e  disaster  at 


74 


STORIES    OF    OUR    SOLDIERS. 


Ball's  Bluff  never  could  have  happened.  thougt, 
of  COOTS*  we  miffbt  hare  loot  Rome  men. 

"Colonel  Ward  was  not  to  blame,  either,  fox 
aot  doing  so  being  justified  by  a  later  order 
which  he  received  to  report  to  Gen.  Devens.  but 
if  ever  there  was  a  wronged  man.  that  man  was 
General  Charles  P.  Stone. " 

For  so  good-natured  a  man  as  our  present 
State  Auditor  the  General  was  very  emphatic. 

"  The  instance  I  am  about  to  relate  will  prove 
what  I  say,"  he  continued.  "  Colonel  Chase 
Philbrick  of  Lawrence,  Captain  he  was  then, 
with  eight  or  ten  men,  possiblv— a  small  scouting 
party,  at  any  rate— from  the  Fifteenth,  had 
crossed  the  river  the  night  before  ana  had  made 
a  reoonnoissance  over  the  bluff  toward  Lees 
burg,  as  you  already  know." 

"Their  encampment  proved  subsequently  to  be 
literally  all  in  the  air,  though  it  could  be 
readily  seen  how  they  were  deceived  when  one 
looked  at  those  spaces  under  the  trees,  and  saw 
the  way  they  appeared  afterward  in  the  moon 
light  Captain  Philbrick  declared  he  con)  ' 
have  sworn  they  were  tents. 


"Colonel  Devens  was  ordered  across  the  rivei 
with  five  companies  of  the  Fifteenth  to  ad 
vance  in  the  direction  of  Leesburg.  to  ascertain 
what  might  be  developed,  while  Lieutenant 
Colonel  George  H.  Ward,  afterward  killed  at 
Gettysburg,  was  ordered  to  proceed  with  the 
remaining  five  companies  across  the  river  to 
occupy  Smart's  Mill,  an  old  brick  flour  mill  to 
the  right  of  the  bluff,  looking  from  the  Mary 
land  shore,  toward  Conrad's  Ferry. 

"Now,  this  mill  was  directly  in  the  range  of 
guns  which  could  be  easily  brought  to  bear  on 
our  side  of  the  river,  and  consequently  covered 
by  them.  If  you  will  study  the  mio  you  will 
find  that  the  foot  slopes  of  Bail's  Bluif  are 
merged  in  the  ordinary  shore  level,  and  that 
Smart's  mill  is  on  very  low  ground. 

"It  would  have  been  perfectly  possible  for  a 
very  small  number  of  men  to  have  held  that 
mill  for  any  length  of  time,  for  no  rebel  could 
have  approached  it  under  the  fire  of  our  guns. 

"It  was  the  intention  of  Gen.  Stone,  it  is  plain, 
to  make  that  mill  the  basis  of  operations  on  the 
Virginia  side ;  in  case  of  necessity  a  safe  point 
for  the  men  to  fall  back  upon  and  wait  for  rein- 
forcements. 

"But  Lieut.  Col.  Ward  did  not  go  with  his  men 
where  it  was  intended  he  should  for  the  reason 
stated  above,  and  there  Gen.  Stone's  plan  failed 
from  no  fault  of  his. 

"Col.  Devens  crossed  first,  as  1  stated,  soon  after 
midnight.  In  the  early  morning  he  sent  for- 
ward Capt  Phil  brick's  company,  H.  through 
the  woods  to  skirmisn  toward  tee  supoosed 
camp  in  the  direction  of  Leesburg.  The  com- 
pany advanced  until  they  came  up  to  the  sus- 
picious line  of  trees,  and  ascertained  that  Ma- 
jor Phil  brick's  supposed  camp  was  a  myth. 

"But  behind  those  trees  was  another  open 
field  rising  to  a  slight  elevation.  The  Colonel 
•aid  to  Philbrick ;  'Captain,  take  your  men  and 
skirmish  to  that  next  elevation  and  see  what 
you  develop.' 


Captain  Philbrick  did  so,  and  beyond  the 
ridge  came  upon  a  cornfield.  Here  his  skir- 
mishers developed  the  rebels  concealed  in  the 
corn,  and  there  was  quite  a  sharp  fight  here,  the 
company  losing  several  men.  This  was  quite 
early  in  the  morning. 

"Lieutenant  Colonel  Ward,  with  four  com- 
panies, crossed  to  Harrison's  Island  with  the 
intention  of  finding  the  nearest  route  to 

Smart's  Mill'  I  was  left  with  the  last  com- 
pany to  superintend  the  crossing  under  oraers 
to  rejoin  Lieutenant  Colonel  Ward  at  that  mill 

"But  when  we  got  upon  the  island  we  heard 
the  firing  on  the  Virginia  saore  and  knew  our 
men  were  engaged. 

"Lieut.  Col.  Ward,  by  reason  of  the  new  or- 
der, changed  his  intention  of  going  to  the  mill, 
and  actuated  bv  the  belief  that  CoL  Devens  was 
in  peril  and  in  danger  of  being  cut  off,  decided 
to  disregard  Gen.  Stone's  express  order,  and  to 
<o  at  once  to  the  relief  of  his  chief  and  his  out- 
numbered comrades.  He  did  so. 

"When  I  came  UP  with  the  rear  company  I 
asked  the  way  that  Lieut.  Col.  Ward  had  taken 
for 'Smart's  Mill,'  and  was  told  that  he  had 
not  gone  there  at  all.  I  could  hardly  believe  it 
at  first,  but  was  convinced  of  the  fact  It  was 
my  duty  to  report  to  Col.  Ward  wherever  I 
could  find  him  and  I  crossed  my  company  at 
once  and  followed  him  over  the  bluff. 

•'We  crossed  the  open  field  on  top  of  Ball's 
Bluff  and  found  CoL  Devens  and  Lieut.  CoL 
Ward  in  the  belt  of  woods  on  the  farther  side. 
Of  course  the  Colonel  was  very  glad  to  see  us— 
to  have  his  whole  regiment  with  him.  He  was 
in  no  immediate  peril,  however. 

"Upon  the  withdrawal  of  Captain  Philbrick. 
after  his  hot  fight  in  the  morning,  Company  B. 
Fitchburg  Fusiliers,  was  advanced  to  the  crest 
of  the  ridge  as  skirmishers.  I  went  across  the 
field  to  the  right  and  saw  Captain  Simonds  near 
the  Jackson  nouse.  I  then  went  down  the  line 
to  the  left  and  saw  Sergeant  May.  afterward 
Colonol  of  our  Tenth  militia  regiment 

"  I  saw  indications  there  of  an  attempt  by  the 
rebels  to  get  round  on  our  left,  and  reported 
oack  immediately  to  Colonel  Devens.  He 
formed  his  line  of  battle  in  the  woods.  The 
Johnnies  did  turn  the  flank  of  our  skirmish  line, 
and  that's  where  Captain  Simonds  and  so  many 
of  our  boys  were  gobbled.  George  C.  Taylor,  the 
first  soldier  from  Fitchburg  killed  in  the  war 
was  shot  there. 

"  The  rebels  came  down  upon  us  and  we  had  a 
very  smart  engagement,  but  repulsed  them. 

"  Between  1  and  2  o'clock  we  received  word 
that  Gen.  Baker  had  come  upon  the  field  and 
assumed  command  of  all  the  troops  with  direc- 
tions to  fall  back  to  the  bluff. 

"  We  came  out  of  the  woods  by  a  cart  path  and 
crossed  the  open  lot  to  where  the  Twentieth 
Massachusetts,  the  'California  Regiment'  (so- 
called),  and  the  New  York  Tammany  boys  were 
drawn  up  to  support  us. 

"  I  was  near  Col.  Devens  when  he  reported  to 
Gen.  Baser.  The  latter  said:  'Colonel,  your 
regiment  has  aone  splendidly  to-day.  I  will 
give  you  the  post  of  honor,  the  right  of  the 
line,'  and  he  added,  'if  we  fight,  we  will  make 


76 


STORIES    OF    OUR    SOLDIERS. 


the  battle  right  here.'     That  was  on  the  edge  of 
the  bluff. 

"  Col.  Devens  said,  '  Major,  what  time  is  it? 

"  I  looked  at  my  watch.  It  was  a  quarter-past 
two.  Just  then  the  rebs  opened  fire  on  us. 
That  watch  went  to  the  bottom  of  the  Potomac 
that  evening. 

"  The  Fifteenth  formed  the  right  angle  of  a 
triangle,  a  portion  of  the  regiment  facing  down 
the  line  of  battle,  while  the  remainder  faced 
directly  forward  I  did  not  see  General  Baker 
mounted  on  the  field  There  were  no  horses 
that  I  saw  there  on  our  side  except  a  small  body 
of  cavalry,  'two  fours,'  we  would  say,  which 
came  over  in  the  morning  and  then  went  back, 
doing  us  no  good  at  all. 

"  He  certainly  could  uot  have  nad  a  tiorse. 
There  was  no  opportunity  for  him  to  use  him  in 
front  of  our  line,  and  he  could  not  have  ridden 
him  behind  the  Twentieth  without  going  over 
board  off  the  edge  of  tne  bluff.  The  statement 
that  he  was  shot  in  the  saddle  is  wholly  erron- 
eous. 

"  There  were  two  mountain  howitzers  in  our 
front,  facing  at  an  angle  to  the  main  line 
toward  the  cart  track,  and  a  rifled  gun  farther 
along  the  line,  possibly  in  front  of  the  Twen- 
tieth, to  our  left  These  cannon  were  brought 
up  by  drag  ropes.  I  saw  no  horses  about  them. 
The  only  man  1  saw  that  day  on  a  horse  was  a 
fellow  who  rode  out  of  the  woods  in  front  ot  the 
Tammany  regiment  (Forty-second  New  York), 
and  shouted  'Come  on  boysl '  The  Tammany 
fellows  responded,  and  that's  where  they  wero 
terribly  cut  up  before  they  discovered  their  mis 
take. 

"The  man  who  claims  to  have  done  that  in 
living  in  Leesburg  to  day .  and  his  name  is  E.  Z. 
White.  He  says  he  shouted  'Come  on  boysl' 
and  that  '  the  Yankees  rushed  up  toward  mo 
and  received  a  terrible  fire.' 

"The  Forty  second  New  York  was  on  our  left. 
It  was  as  late  as  4.30  when  that  happened. 

"The  last  time  I  saw  General  Baker  was  when 
he  gave  me  an  order  to  take  two  companies  and 
deplov  to  the  right  as  he  believed  that  the  rebels 
were  moving  down  through  the  woods  to  turn 
our  flank.  I  took  Company  A.  Fifteenth,  and 
another  company,  found  the  rebels,  and  was 
successful  in  repelling  them. 

"There  were  no  Con  federates  then  between  my 
men  and  the  river,  and  had  that  old  mill  been 
occupied  as  General  Stone  intended,  and  at  the 
timenodoubtsupposeditwas.it  would  have  been 
perfectly  possible  to  have  moved  out  by  the  right, 
and  reached  the  Hour  mill  by  the  flank.  There 
we  would  nave  been  in  comparative  safety  for 
our  batteries  on  the  Maryland  shore  would 
then  have  come  into  play  As  it  was  those  guns 
were  silent  all  day. 

"  It  was  impossible  to  use  them  on  Ball's  Bluff, 
for  the  range  was  so  high  that  tne  shells  would 
fall  clear  beyond  the  rebel  line. 

"  The  howitzers  were  fired  several  times,  but 
the  cannoneers  were  especial  marks  for  the 
Mississippi  riflemen,  and  were  shot  down  at  the 
guns,  it  was  there  that  Baker  was  killed. 

"He  was  always  very  impulsive,  and  went 
where  no  commanding  officer  was  entitled  to  be 


He  rushed  out  to  see  why  those  howitzers  were- 
silenced,  and,  conspicuous  in  his  full  uniform, 
was  immediately  shot  down  and  killed. 

"  The  last  time  before  the  battle  that  1  saw  him 
mounted  was  in  the  morning  quite  early,  when 
I  met  him  on  the  Maryland  side,  with  his  staff. 
and  told  him  that  the  shortest  way  to  reach 
General  Stone  was  to  ride  down  the  tow  path  of 
the  canal.  I  was  waiting  then  to  cross  to  the 
island. 

"After  he  was  killed.  Colonel  Cogswell,  Forty- 
second  New  York,  assumed  command.  He 
claimed  seniority  as  ranking  officer. 

"He  said  to  Colonel  Devens.  substantially: 
Colonel,  I  direct  you  to  withdraw  your  men  to- 
the  foot  of  the  bluff.' 

"Colonel  Devens.  in  some  surprise,  replied: 
'Do  I  understand  you,  Colonel,  to  order  a  re- 
treat,? ' 

"  He  did  not  believe  that  such  a  step  was  nec- 
essary. We  had  held  the  rebels  very  well,  and 
had  been  successful  in  repelling  their  Hank 
movement  on  our  right. 

"  Colonel  Cogswell  said  that  was  what  he 
meant 

"  Colonel  Devens  then  said  .  Colonel.  1  want 
somebody  else  here  to  hear  what  you  say.  Just  re- 
peat  that  in  the  presence  of  my  Major.'  Lieut 
Colonel  Ward  had  been  wounded  just  before 
that,  and  he  summoned  me  When  I  came  UD, 
Colonel  Devens  said : 

"  '  Now.  Colonel  Cogswell.  I  will  receive  that 
•  >rder.' 

"  He  did  so,  repeating  it  about  as  I  have  said. 
The  only  way  for  us  then  to  get  out  was  by  tne 
left  flank  down  through  the  depression  to  the 
plateau  beneath.  I  don't  think  there  was  any 
pell  mell  jumping  over  the  edge  of  the  bluff. 
If  there  had  been  it  was  so  steep  the  casualties 
would  have  been  far  greater. 

"  Colonel  Devens  was  perfectly  cool,  and  I 
think  somewhat  vexed,  for  he  was  very  much 
opposed  to  the  order.  He  encouraged  pur  boys, 
and  the  old  Fifteenth  fell  back,  fighting  as  it 
went,  moving  out  by  the  left  in  good  order. 

"  When  we  got  down  on  the  plateau  our 
Colonel  wanted  to  rally,  and  said  to  me  'Let  us 
reform  and  try  to  go  back.' 

"  But  the  rebels  had  then  rushed  to  the  edge  of 
the  bluff  and  were  firing  right  down  into  us. 
It  was  impossible  to  rally  the  men.  and  then 
Colonel  Devens  shouted.  Boys,  throw  your 
guns  into  the  river  and  save  yourselves." 

"  With  him  1  went  down  to  the  water.  The 
only  scow  had  sank.  The  river  was  full  of 
struggling  men.  There  was  a  metallic  life- 
boat, but  it  was  so  riddled  with  shot  as  to  be 
useless. 

"All  the  time  the  rebels  kept  up  their  murder- 
ous fire  and  men  were  dropping  all  round  us. 
Capt  Moses  Gatchell  was  shot  and  killed  while 
swimming  the  river,  and  so  was  Lieut  Willie 
Grout  of  Worcester. 

"  I  never  saw  Gen.  Devens  more  cool.  Lieut 
C.  H.  Eager.  Frederick  H.  Sibley,  with  W 
A.  Eames,  A.  A.  Simqnds  and  George  L. 
Boss,  all  of  Company  B,  had  a  branch  of  a  tree, 
some  20  feet  long,  with  an  ordinary  piece  of 
scantline  about  12  feet  lone. 


AN    UNKNOWN    HERO    OF    THE    WAR. 


77 


"They  were  supporting  themselves  upon  them 
in  the  water,  and  called  to  us.  '  Come.  Colonel, 
come.  Major,  we  will  taKe  you  across.'  Devens 
was  an  indifferent  swimmer;  some  of  the  others 
could  not  swim.  I  was  a  good  swimmer.  When 
we  not  out  in  the  stream  we  found  our  load  too 
heavy,  and  I  bade  the  boys  good-by  and  struck 
out  alone.  Three  times  1  went  down.  The 
shots  were  spatting  the  water  all  round  me, 
and  oh,  how  numi'  I  was!  The  water  was  icy 
Col' I  and  the  current  swift. 

**  The  last  time  I  went  down  my  feet  touched 
bottom,  and  I  remember  the  supreme  effort  I 
made  to  rise  above  the  surface.  1  came  up 
beside  an  upturned  stump  about  eight  rods 
from  the  shore.  From  that  I  waded  to  land, 
the  water  being  shallow.  I  met  a  soldier  on 
Harrison's  Island  who  immediately  went  to 
work  on  me  to  restore  circulation. 

"  As  soon  as  my  blood  began  to  flow  naturally  I 


was  all  right,  but  I  could  not  have  gone  much 
farther.  Later  1  rejoined  my  comrades,  who 
landed  farther  down  stream  than  I  did. 

"  Fugitives  were  coming  in  from  the  Virginia 
shore  for  two,  three  or  even  four  days  after  the 
battle.  Capt.  Simonds  was  reported  killed,  but 
after  the  battle,  when  the  rebel  pickets  became 
more  friendly,  one  of  our  fellows,  talking  across 
the  river,  learned  that  the  Johnnies  had  cap- 
tured a  long,  lean  Yankee  Captain  with  a  hand- 
kerchief tied  round  his  head,  and  that  he  had 
gone  to  Richmond. 

"  That  identified  the  Captain,  who  had  gone 
into  the  fight  with  an  accidental  sword  cut  back 
of  his  ear,  and  wound  the  handkerchief  about  it 
to  stop  the  blood.  He  was  afterward  killed  at 
Antietam.  That's  the  true  story  of  Ball's  Bluff. 
for  which  Gen.  Stone  was  unjustly  imprisoned 
in  Fort  Lafayette  ana  refused  a  trial  when  he 
asked  for  it." 


AN     UNKNOWN     HERO    OF    THE    WAR. 


i Colonel  Norwood  <F.  HalioweU,  who  tells  this  story  sc 
rivMly  about  Captain  Timothy  O'Meara  of  the  Forty 
sec*nd  New  York  ("Tammany  Regiment"),  is  the  present 
President  of  the  National  Hank  of  Commerce  The  tnci 
dent  he  relates  has  never  been  published  before,  and  Cap 
tain  O'Meara  never  received  that  national  recognition 
which  his  heroism  deserved.  He  was  a  prisoner  of  war. 
Mid  when  Llbby  closed  its  doors  upon  him  his  name 
passed  Into  oblivion.  The  roll  of  the  Forty-second  bears 
•Imply  the  legend,  "Captain  Timothy  O'Meara.  mustered 
out  October  10, 1862."  nearly  a  year  after  Ball's  Bluff. 

We  were  seated  at  the  table,  round  the  hos- 
pitable board  of  the  "veteran  mess"  of  the 
Twentieth,  when  Captain  Gustave  Magnitzky 
revived  Ball's  Bluff  by  a  query  to  his  neigh  Dor. 
Colonel  Norwood  P.  Hallowell.  a  Captain  of  the 
regiment  on  that  field,  as  to  whether  he  had 
heard  any  order  for  retreat. 

The  Colonel  replied  that  he  heard  no  order 
but  he  did  hear  Col.  W  R.  Lee  say.  "I've  done 
all  I  can  do — you  are  at  liberty.now  to  care  for 
yourselves."  Then  the  line  began  to  fall  back 
toward  the  base  of  the  bluff. 

Continuing,  Col.  Hallowell  remarked  that  he 
was  the  last  commissioned  officer  to  get  away 
from  the  Virginia  shore  that  night,  after  the 
disastrous  rout,  and  to  escape  without  capture. 

He  swam  the  Potomac  as  late  as  8  o'clock  in 
the  evening  and  reached  Harrison's  Island, 

After  the  sinking  of  the  scow  there  were  clus- 
tered together  under  the  bluff,  perhaps  150 
men,  refugees  from  the  battle. 

Thhy  were  soldiers  of  different  regiments  left 
there  apparently  hopelessly  stranded— with  a 
cold,  swift  and  deep  current  rolling  before 
them,  and  at  their  back  a  cruel,  exultant  rebel 
horde  of  whose  brutality  and  inhumanity  each 
succeeding  moment  brought  a  fresh  reminder 
in  the  continuous  sharp  reports  of  their  rifles 
from  the  top  of  the  bluff,  and  now  and  again  a 
muffled  cry  from  the  river  as  the  swift  flying 
bullet,  on  murder  bent,  found  Its  mark,  and  the 
fast  widening  concentric  circles  rippling  back 
almost  to  their  feet  told  of  another  brave  swim- 
mer sank  beneath  the  tide. 


The  bitterness  of  despair  pervaded  the  group 
as  it  stood  face  to  face  with  the  grim  king  of 
terrors,  himself,  in  most  gloomy  guise. 

But  in  that  hour  of  darkness  and  misery,  forth 
from  their  midst  an  unexpected  leader  came— a 
brave  Irish  Captain  of  the  "  Tammany  Regi 
ment" 

With  excellent  judgment,  true  courage  and 
rare  steadiness  of  nerve,  he  restored  manhood  to 
the  cowering  by  the  sheer  force  of  personal  ex- 
ample. His  orders  were  coolly  given,  and 
obeyed  implicitly,  for  none  questioned  his  right 
to  command.  He  called  for  volunteers  for  a 
picket  guard,  and  soon  actually  had  a  well 
established  line  of  pickets  halt-way  UP  the  bluff, 
thrown  right  into  the  teeth  of  the  triumphant 
rebel  host. 

Though  the  guard  numbered  only  fifteen  or 
twenty  men  their  fearlessness  inspired  such 
caution  in  their  foes  that  the  leading  files  were 
loth  to  advance,  and  thus  a  mere  handful  of 
men,  under  the  guidance  of  a  brave  master 
spirit,  held  in  check  the  thousands  of  a  victori 
ous  enemy 

"  Of  course  we  knew,''  said  the  Colonel,  'what 
terrible  peril  those  fel^ws  were  in,  and  when 
we  got  together  on  Harrison's  Island  somebody 
thought  of  a  boat  he  had  seen  on  the  Maryland 
side  of  that  island,  and  I  sent  for  it."  When 
afterward  a  boat  appeared,  by  means  of  which 
a  number  of  men  were  brought  over  from  the 
Virginia  shore,  the  Colonel  inferred  that  that 
was  the  craft  he  had  ordered. 

"  It  made  several  trips,  and  when  it  got  across 
it  was  met  by  this  Irish  Captain — O'Meara  was 
his  name."  continued  the  speaker. 

"He  personally  stood  and  saw  the  boat  proo- 
erly  filled  with  the  wounded,  first  from  his 
little  throng  of  comrades.  Among  those  thus 
rescued  was  Corporal  Charles  Covell  of  my 
company  in  the  Twentieth,  who  was  wounded 
in  the  battle. 

Hope  was  revived  as  the  refugees  saw  their 
comrades  departing.  If  that  picket  guard 
could  only  hold  the  rebel  line  a  short  time 
longer  Would  they  do  it?  It  began  to  look  as 


78 


STORIES    OF    OUR    SOLDIERS. 


though  it  were  possible,  and  the  drooping: 
spirits  of  the  men  rose  again. 

•*Through  it  all  Captain  O'Meara  calmly  stood 
as  cool  as  thcagh  he  had  a  whole  division  around 
him.  He  and  his  little  picket  guard  made  it 
possible  to  rescue  certainly  30  or  40  men.  be- 
fore the  rebels,  growing:  finally  suspicious, 
swooped  clown  and  around  the  picket  line  upon 
the  remnant  of  the  Union  band,  and  thus  ren- 
dered at'orti  ve  further  trips  of  this  hastily  im- 
provised ferry. 

"  it  was  with  sad  hearts  that  the  gallant  boat's 
crew  found  itself  forced  to  sheer  off  and  leave 
that  brave  Irish  Captain  to  his  fate,  a  prisoner 
in  the  hands  of  exulting  captors. 

"  And  now  let  me  tell  the  true  story  of  the 
raft  that  I  find  I  am  credited  with  improvising," 
•aid  tbe  Colonel  "That  raft  was  not  my  in- 
spiration. Some  of  the  men  constructed  it  of 
rails  and  timbers,  which  they  tied  together 
by  means  of  their  rubber  blankets,  in 
part,  and  strips  of  clothing:.  I  volun- 
teered to  pole  it  across,  and  with  one 
man.  a  private  of  the  Forty-second  New  York. 


'  Tammany  Regiment,'  we  crot  the  raft  over  to 
the  Virginia  shora  Lieut.  Murphy  of  the  Twen- 
tieth stood  on  the  bank  of  Harrison's  Island  as 
we  pushed  off,  and  wished  us  '  good  luck.'  We 
took  on  board  five  men  and  started  back  for  the 
island. 

"  Mid  stream  the  raft  suddenly  went  to  pieces 
and  we  all  had  to  swim  for  it  Four  of  the  men 
we  had  rescued  were  swept  away  down  stream 
and  probably  drowned.  We  never  saw  them 
again.  The  fifth,  with  the  New  York  private, 
who  went  with  me.  and  myself,  succeeded  in 
reaching  the  bank. 

"  So  that  really  all  that  we  accomplished  with 
that  raft  was  to  rescue  one  man  and  drown  four. 

"Capt.  O'Meara  went  to  the  heart  of  rflbeldom 
to  Libby  Prison.  We  never  heard  from  him 
again  as  to  his  fate ;  and  his  hnroism,  his  devo- 
tion to  his  comrades  in  their  peril,  his  noble  self- 
sacrifice  were  never  recognized  in  any  pub- 
lished account  of  the  battle  or  by  the  nation. 

"  He  will  live  in  our  memory,  although  so  far 
as  the  world  is  concerned  lie  is  an  unknown 
hero  of  tne  war. " 


m.'? 


CROSSING    AT    BALI/S    BLUFF. 


THE  CAPTAIN'S  STORY. 


Captain  W.  A.  Hill,  cbe  narrator,  was  corn  >n  aaiem. 
He  was  one  of  Devereux's  famous  Salem  Zouaves,  ape 
ciidly  chosen  by  General  Butler  as  drill  master,  for  newly 
recruited  companies  arrlvin?  at  the  front .  and  he  was 
successively  promoted  as  Second  and  as  First  Lieutenant. 
•*nd  as  Captain  in  the  Nineteenth  Massachusetts.  He  was 
Adjutant  of  that  regiment  at  Gettysburg,  and  participated 
in  all  the  fighting  at  Frederlcksburg  At  present  be  lj 
CaatUer  of  the  Edison  Electric  Company  Boston 


'  A  busy  scurrying  of  orderlies  in  and  out  ol 
camp ! 

"  An  unusual  stir  at  Headquarters 

'The  issuing  of  extra  rations  to  the  oien.  the 
serving  out  of  additional  rounds  of  powder  and 
ball,  and,  more  than  all.  an  unexpected  and  ex 
eeptional  inspection  of  arms  at  'retreat.'  were 
pointers  sufficient  for  any  old  soldier  to  read  as 
plainly  as  though  they  formed  a  printed  page  in 
extra  long  primer  type  that  the  Second  Corp? 
had  marching  orders— that  the  boys  would  be  on 
the  move  before  daybreak 

"Togo  where? 

'  A  good  soldier  never  asks  questions. 

"  It  may  be  a  long   twenty  miles  march  ovei 
touch  Virginia  roads. 

"It  maybe   the    preface    of    his    last  day  on 
earth. 

"  The  fact  is  that  the  army  is  at  last  about  to 
break  its  long  period   of   inaction  since  Antic 


tarn      Burnside    has   yielded    to    the    popular 
clamor,  and  against  his  better   Judgment  begins 
aimovement 
"And  John  Thompson  was  company  cook, 

John,  the  dullard,  the  drill  Sergeant's  despair 

—John,  who  always  came  to  right  face  when  he 

should    have   faced    to    the    left,    who   never 

doubled  up '  right  according  to  Hardee  and  in 

variably  broke  UD  his  tile.     John   to  whom.  '  by 

the  right  or  left  flank.'  was  as  the  veriest  Greek. 

'John.  '  the  pot  slower.'  '  the  coffee  cooler,'  as 

the  boys  affectionately  called  him  at  mess  time 

-in  a  word,  the  company  cook,   oecause  there 

seemed  no  other  place  to  put  him 

By  gum.  I'll  do  it.'  said  John  comme  10 
the  position  of  the  soldier  with  far  better  '  set 
up '  than  he  had  ever  achieved  before  in  his 
whole  military  experience. 

Splash  went  the  SOUD  stick  to  the  bottom  ot 
the  kettle,  with  a  quick.,  responsive  gevser  of 
hot  beef  fat  to  sputter  its  wrath  to  the  glowing 
embers  of  the  fire  beneath— at  such  astonishing 
proceedings. 

"Straight  up  the  company    street  went  John 
10  the  line  officers'  quarters. 

Lieutenant?'  and  up  came  the  hand  to  hi? 
cap  vizor 

"  'Lieutenant?'  said  ha 

"'Well  John,'  said  L 


80 


STORIES    OF   OUR    SOLDIERS. 


The  Doys  are  going  into  a  fight  to-morrow-' 
questioningly. 

' '  It  looks  like  it,  John. 

"'Well.  Lieutenant,  please  :ei  me  faille 
with  them.'  " 

" '  But  John,  you  are  doing  such  good  work 
here  I  never  could  find  another  party  to  put  in 
your  place.  Somebo  ly  must  cook  for  the  boys 
—they  will  want  something  to  eat. 

"  '  I  know,  Lieutenant,  but  I  want  to  show  em 
the  stuff  I've  got  in  me.  Won't  you  let  me  go?1 

"Well,  he  begged  so  hard  that  1  finally  to^d 
him  that  if  he'd  get  the  word  of  Morrison,  the 
chief  cook  that  my  boys  shouldn't  go  hungry— 
that  I'd  grant  his  request. 

"  You  never  saw  a  man  so  pleased.  Of?  ie 
went,  and  was  back  with  Morrison  in  a  jiffy. 

"  '  It'll  be  all  right.  Lieutenant.'  said  that  good- 
natured  chef.  '  There's  always  plenty  of  dar 
kies  lying  round.  We'll  get  along.' 

"  I  said,  'All  right.  John,  you  can  go— getyoui 
eun  and  fall  in.' 

"  He  was  the  most  grateful  man.  and  as  ha wv 
*•  though  he  were  going  to  a  dance. 

"The  Nineteenth  Massachusetts  lay  in  camp 
at  Fa  1  mouth.  Right  down  below  us  was  the 
river.  The  banks  were  sloping,  perhaps  forty  or 
fifty  feet  high— not  [edgy  but  of  the  peculiar 
clayey  soil  of  Virginia. 

"  The  Lacy  house,  a  fine  old  Dominion  manor, 
was  but  a  short  distance  away.  I  remember  it 
as  a  white  mansion  with  the  big  portico  in  fk-ont, 
common  to  Virginia  residences  of  its  claM,  and 
imposing  gable 

"  Right  across  the  river  was  Fredericfcsburg. 
a  typical  southern  city. 

"When  assemoly  sounded  the  first  man  in 
ine  was  John  Thompson. 

"  He  crossed  with  us  in  the  first  boats  that 
went  over  and  took  his  place  in  the  skirmish  line. 

'  He  had  been  firing  a  good  while  when  he 
came  up  to  me  and  asked  if  he  might  go  a  short 
distance  to  the  rear  and  get  the  musket  of  a 
wounded  man  lying  there,  his  own  piece  having 
fouled. 

"  You  see.  the  bullets  in  the  cartridges  they 
gave  us  were  often  no  slushed  with  grease  that 
in  very  rapid  firing  the  barrel  would  gum  up  in 
a  short  time. 

"  I  said.  '  All  right.  John,  go  get  it. 

"He  went  back  and  met  a  Lieutenant,  who 
sang  out,  '  Here !  where  are  you  goinar.  yon  — — 
shirk?  Go  back  to  your  comnany.' 

'"  I'm  no  shirk  and  no  coward,' says  John.  'I 
got  leave  to  get  this  man's  gun,'  stooping  for  the 
coveted  rifle. 

' '  Well,  you  can't  have  it,  said  the  Lieuten 
ant, 'get  out  of  here  and  go  back  to  your  com 
pany.' 

"  We  were  getting  a  not  fire  then 
'Well,  of  course  I  didn't  know  of    what   was 
going  on  in    the    rear,  I  wasn't    watching    John 
Thompson.  I  knew  that  a  man  that  had  asked 
to  go  into  the  fight  did  not  require  It. 

"  The  next  that  I  saw  of  him  wa§  when  he  pre- 
sented himself,  panting,  and  smoke-grimed.  He 
was  actually  so  mad  he  could  hardly  speak  He 
was  holding  on  to  his  thigh  and  limping. 

"Said  I,  '  Are  you  wounded  John?' 


"  Then  it  poured  forth— 'Didn't  you  tell  me. 

Lieutenant,  I  might  have  that  man's  gun?' 
"I  did. 

' '  Well,  that  — —  back  there.'  mean- 
ing the  Lieutenant,  'wouldn't  let  me  have  it, 

and. him,  he  ran  me  through  the  leg  with 

his  sword,  said  I  was  a  shirk  an  I  a  cowara.' 

'  Wei'.,  well.  John,    said  I.  rather  suprlsed. 
You're  wounded — go  to  the  rear. 

"  '  Not  by  a sight,'  shouted    he,  fiercely. 

I  will  never  forget  his  appearance  as  he  stood 
before  me.  his  face  black  with  the  smoke  of 
battle  and  streaked  with  perspiration— his 
expression  intensely  eager 

'  I  came  out  here  to  fight  and  I'm  not  through 
ret,'  and  he  sprang  forward  and  left  me.  John 
was  woundf-d  after  that,  but  the  boys  never 
taunted  him  again  in  the  service,  and  he  bade 
food-by  to  the  kettles. 


That  man  had  a  splendid  war  record,  ana 
before  he  got  through  was  commissioned  as 
Second  and  then  as  First  Lieutenant  He  was 
killed  in  the  trenches  at  Cold  Harbor,  June  3, 
1864. 

''  So  you  never  can  tea,  after  ail,  who  will 
make  a  soldier."  said  Captain  W.  A.  Hill,  once 
of  the  fighting  Nineteenth,  thus  opening  hia 
treasure  basket  to  bring  back  memories  of  the 
Rappahannock  for  the  Journal  readers 

"And  what  became  of  the  blood-thirsty  Lien- 
tenant.  Captain?" 

"  Oil.  he  was  wounded,  too.  It  he  bad  not 
been,  I  should  surely  have  preferred  charges 
against  him.  He  was  afterward  promoted,  and 
is  dead  since  the  war  " 

The  Captain  was  seated  at  his  pleasant  desk 
In  his  business  office,  off  Tremont  street,  as  he 
opened  his  port- folio  of  memory  pictures  of 
war-time  days  for  his  visitor's  enjoyment  The 
whirring  of  huge  dynamos  and  intermittent 
electric  flashes  from  the  slowing  incandescents 
in  the  great  hall*  around  him  gave  a  realistic 
setting  to  the  stories  he  unfolded.  One  needed 
only  the  murky  battle  smoke  to  make.the  men- 
tal portraiture  comolete. 

"  We  had  simply  to  go  down  to  the  river.  It 
was  no  great  distance."  he  continued,  "and 
our  brigade— 'Hall's'— just  happened  to  lie  at 
the  Lacy  house  just  prior  to  the  crossing. 

"  We  left  camp  at  Falmouth  before  daybreak. 
It  was  a  December  day,  just  like  this,  clear  and 
with  keen  temperature,  though  I  remember 
that  there  was  a  white  bank  of  river  log  that 
hovered  over  the  Rappahannock  and  veiled  our 
movements. 

"At  aoout  daylight  we  pushed  on  down  to  the 
river  bank,  where  we  found  the  pontoon  corps 
at  work  laying  the  bridge.  As  day  dawned,  the 
pontoniers  were  interrupted  in  their  work,  and 
the  rebel  sharpshooters  on  the  opposite  side  of 
the  river  picked  them  off  so  rapidly  that  the 
bridge  builders  were  compelled  to  desist  The 
pontoon  was  then  about  two-thirds  done. 

"Our  artillery  was  posted  upon  the  bank 
above  us— 60  to  76  guns,  principally  12-pound 
Parrotts  though  there  may  have  been  some  Na- 


82 


STORIES   OF   OUR   SOLDIERS. 


poleqns  among  them.    These  pieces  were  soon 
shelling  the  town. 


"Flames  burst  fortn  from  several  houses. 
The  shells  continued  to  i.e  sent  across  until 
about  4  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  when  word 
came  down  the  line  for  the  troops  in  the  neigh- 
borhood of  the  bridge  head,  which  was  near  the 
Lacy  house,  to  cross  the  river  and  dislodge  the 
sharpshooters. 

"  The  nearest  troops  were  tnose  of  the  Nine- 
teenth Massachusetts  and  the  Seventh  Michi- 
gan. 

"  We  happened  to  be  there,  that  was  aiL 
know  that  they  called  us  the  'Forlorn  Hope.' 
and  it  was  somewhat  of  an  undertaking,  but  as 
far  as  volunteering  that  was  u9t  necessary,  with 
the  commanding  General  right  close  to  us 
watching  the  opposite  shore.  He  would  give 
the  order  for  us  to  cross  when  he  decided  that 
the  time  had  arrived  to  make  the  movement,  in 
any  event 

"  We  were  ordered  to  go.  being  the  nearest 
trooos,  and  we  went.  There  were  a  number  of 
the  flat  pontoon  boats  lying  along  shore  not 
used.  We  got  into  them  and  the  boats  wem 
poled  across.  The  water  was  not  very  deep,  not 
over  four  or  five  feet  at  the  deepest  part. 

"  We  were  under  fire  the  entire  distance. 

Were  any  men  killed,  Captain? 

'I  dp  not  remember  that  there  were  any 
killed  in  the  Nineteenth,  though  there  were 
several  men  wounded,  but  I  think  some  of  the 
Seventh  Michigan  were  killed,  besides  several 
wounded. 

"The  crossing  was  effected.  On  the  other 
side  we  were  not  especially  under  fire,  for  we 
were  protected  by  the  bank. 

"  Our  men  were  deployed  as  skirmishers  and 
went  up  the  bank  into  the  town.  There  Was 
just  a  little  narrow  road,  hardly  a  street,  run 
nine  along  the  bank. 

"  We  advanced  as  skirmishers  straight  up  the 
main  street  running  back  from  the  Rappahan- 
nock,  until  we  came  to  the  first  street  running 
across  our  way,  parallel  with  the  river 

"  This  was  Caroline  street,  and  there  we  were 
met  by  a  vigorous  fire  from  what  appeared  to 
be  a  concentrated  body  of  troops.  If  we  had 
been  in  line  of  battle  our  boys  would  have  been 
terribly  out  up. 

"  The  men  who  opposed  us  came  from  Barks 
dale's  brigade,  and  they  were  posted  in  rifle 
pits  across  the  street,  on  which  were  our  skir- 
mishers. 


"1  remember  that  in  this  Sight  Michael  Red 
ding  of  Company  D.  Nineteenth,  was  wounded 
in  the  leg,  and,  when  the  fire  became  so  hot 
that  we  were  driven  back,  one  of  our  fellows 
went  up  to  Redding,  who  was  sitting  on  a 
doorstep,  and  offered  to  take  him  back  with  us. 

"But  he  said,  'No:  you'll  be  back  again 
shortly,  and  I'll  sit  here  and  wait  for  you.' 

"The  Nineteenth's  skirmish  line  fell  back  to 
the  river,  fighting  as  it  went  When  we  got 
back  there  we  found  that  the  pontoon  bridge 
was  completed, 

"It  had  been  finished  under  cover  of  our 


movement  It  was  now  growing  Quite  dark, 
and  I  remember  seeing  a  body  of  troops  just 
crossing  on  the  bridge,  in  column  by  divisions — 
that  is  two  companies  abreast — and  marching  at 
half  distance,  or,  m  other  words,  almost  closed 
in  mass.  It  was  a  division  of  the  Second  Corps. 

"  We  had  held  the  rebels  at  Caroline  street 
long  enough  for  the  pontoniers  to  get  the 
bridge  in  shape  and  establish  communication. 

"  i  recall  the  Twentieth  Massachusetts  Regi- 
mem  as  it  came  along  by  us. 

"  1  thoueht  then  they  were  the  first  regiment 
to  cross  on  the  pontoon  bridge  They  did  not 
cross  in  the  boats  with  us. 

1 1  know  that  the  Twentieth  has  had  the 
credit  of  crossing  in  the  boats  with  the  Seventh 
Michigan,  and  improperly  so. 

"  General  Couch  made  that  statement  that  it 
was  the  Seventh  Michigan  and  Twentieth  Mas- 
sachusetts who  went  across  in  the  boats,  and 
some  of  our  boys  took  the  trouble  to  write  to 
General  Couch  and  have  him  correct  it 

"  They  felt  the  Twentieth  Massachusetts  had 
glory  enough  out  of  this  battle  in  the  splendid 
way  it  stood  up  to  the  terrible  fire  poured  into 
it  at  Caroline  street  It  was  a  grand,  good  regi- 
ment, with  an  admirable  record,  and  no  man  in 
the  Nineteenth  would  say  aught  to  detract  from 
its  laurels  in  any  way 


Gen.  Couch  said  in  his  reply,  '  The  article 
has  gone,  1  didn't  make  it,' that  a  writer  em- 
ployed by  Scribner  &  Sons  obtained  an  inter- 
view with  him,  and  read  it  through  to  him,  and 
Coucn  signed  it.  As  a  matter  of  fact  the  Gen- 
eral said  he  did  know  that  the  Seventh  Michi- 
gan crossed  and  some  Massachusetts  regiment, 
which  he  understood  was  the  Twentieth. 

"I  won't  say,"  said  Captain  Hill,  "that  some 
men  of  the  Twentieth  did  not  cross  in  the  boats 
with  the  Nineteenth  and  Seventh  Michigan, 
but  the  regiment  was  not  with  us  in  a  body 

"  Carleton  makes  the  same  mistake  in  his 
book,  '  Boys  in  Blue. '  in  which  he  makes  the 
same  statement  that  it  was  the  Seventh  Michi- 
gan and  Twentieth  Massachusetts  that  crossed 
in  the.  boats." 

"  But  he  gives  you  credit  now,  Captain. 

'  Oh  yes,  we've  talked  the  thing  up  so  much 

at  our  regimental  reunions,  and  in  other  ways, 

that  we  have  established  the  fact  that  it  waa 

the  Nineteenth  Massachusetts  that  went  over." 

"  Well,  now,  Captain,  Captain  Magnitztey 
states  that  the  1  wentieth  Massachusetts  went 
over  in  boats,  too— that  you  went  first  because 
you  were  nearest,  and  that  they  followed  ypu— 
your  regiments  deploying  and  the  Twentieth 
marching  in  column  of  companies  into  the 
town?" 

"As  to  their  coming  after  us  i  won't  say  They 
might  have  done  that,  but  the  opinion  has  ob- 
tained with  us  that  they  were  the  first  regiment 
to  cross  the  pontoon  bridga  I  know  they  went 
up  into  the  town  in  column,  as  you  say,  and  I 
know  they  suffered  terrioiy  and  lost  more  than 
we  did,  because  they  stood  up  to  that  terribid 
fire  at  Caroline  street  so  bravely," 

"  You  went  up  through  the   yards.    Captain,. 


CHARGE    OF    THK    FORLORN    IIOPF. 


THE    CAPTAIN  S    STORY. 


85 


didn't  you,  and  were  not  so  exposed  as   the 

Twentieth?" 
"Yes.  that  was  true." 
"  Did  you  find  many  in  the  yards?" 
"  Well,  we  f  oun  i  a  few  fellows,  but  not  many, 
as  we  advanced.    The  yards  were  like  those  of 
all  Southern  cities.    There  was  an  air  of  neglect 
about  them— broken  paiingi  in    the   fences— a 
general  aspect  01  decay. 

"  I  remember,  in  trying  to  look  into  one 
house,  we  found  the  door  locked  and  that  a  girl 
answered  our  demand  for  admittance.  When 
she  saw  us,  she  said.  'On,  do  go  away;  there  is 
really  uouody  in  here  but  my  poor  old  blind 
father.' 

"  We  took  her  word,  and  had  just  started  on 
when  there  was  a  report  of  a  gun,  and  we  saw 
a  puff  of  smoke  coming  from  the  cellar  window 
of  that  house. 

"That  didn't  look  much  like  a  blind  man. 
We  made  a  rush  inside,  and  down  in  the  cellar 
we  found  a  mean,  cowering,  sneaking  reb.  His 
gun  was  hot. 

"  Well,  tue  boys  snaked  him  out  quick.  The 
Twentieth  was  just  going  by,  and  we  started 
that  reb  immediately  in  front  of  the  leading 
files  of  that  regiment.  He  was  kept  there,  too. 
literally  at  the  rifle  muzzle,  ana  when  the 
Twentieth  reached  Carolina  street  the  miser- 
able fellow  fell  dead,  killed  at  the  first  tire  that 
broke  upon  Bartlett's  Company  from  Barks- 
dale's  Brigade. 

"  When  our  boys  got  back  to  where  we  left 
poor  Mike  Redding  to  wait  for  us  the  doorstep 
was  empty,  and  we  came  upon  his  dead  body  in 
the  street,  He  had  been  bavonetted  to  death 
and  thrust  through  in  half  a  dozen  different 
places.  Redding  hailed  from  Boston. 

"I  remember  that  as  we  were  crossing  there 
was  a  rebel  sharpshooter  on  the  Frederieksburg 
side,  who  had  annoyed  us  very  mucu  uy  his 
pestiferous  shots. 

"  Naturally  when  we  got  on  top  the  bank  we 
ran  up  to  look  for  this  chap. 

"We  came  uuon  a  rebel  lying  there  with  his 
eyes  closed,  and  just  breathing.  He  had  been 
disemboweled,  apparently  by  a  shell.  And 
there  was  a  hog.  one  of  the  wild  kind  common 
in  the  South,  who  had  been  sniffing  round,  a-id 
had  began  to  eat  him. 

"  We  forgot  old  scores  in  that  sad  sight,  and. 
in  the  interest  of  humanity,  one  ot  our  boys  shot 
the  hog 

'But  perhaps  the  funniest  features  of  that 
battle  were  the  experiences  of  Captain  Andrew 
Mahpney  of  Company  E. 

"  The  Captain  was  a  braw  Irish  lad  with  a 
good  rich  brogue,  but  'all  sojer.'  A  fine  figure 
he  had.  and  very  particular  was  he  as  to  order*- 

"  Well,  I  was  Lieutenant,  commanding  Com- 
pany F,  and  Lieut.  Elisha  W  Hincks,  a  brother 
of  the  General,  now  down  in  Orrington,  Me., 
was  in  command  of  Company  B. 

"An  order  came  for  the  three  companies  on 
the  left  to  cross  the  street,  surround  a  house 
there  was  there  and  to  search  it. 

"Captain  Mahoney,  as    senior  officer  of  the 


left  flank  company,  which  Included   his   own 
and  those  of  Hincks  and  myself,  took  command. 

"  Over  we  marched  and  soon  had  a  cordon  of 
men  round  tnat  house.  We  three  commanders 
marched  up  the  steps  to  the  entrance.  1  was  on 
one  side  of  the  door  and  Hiucks  on  the  other. 
The  Captain  stood  between  us,  and  pompously 
rapped  on  the  fast  closed  door  which  was 
locked. 

"'Open  the  dure,' he  thundered,  giving  it  a 
tremendous  rap. 

"  No  response  from  within. 
1  Sargint,  joost  lave  me  your  gun.' 
'  The   man   presented  his  musket  to  the  Cap- 
tain. 

"  '  Now  will  ye  lave  the  dure  be  shut  when  I 
tells  ye  to  open  it'  '  shouted  that  gallant  officer, 
clubbing  the  piece  and  bringing  the  butt  01  the 
gun  with  a  mighty  swine  down  upon  the  offend- 
ing planks.  Bang  went  the  musket,  and  in 
went  the  door,  just  as  the  bullet  from  the  in- 
verted  guti  went  whizz  through  Elisha  ilincks's 
long  beard. 

'  The  Lieutenant  lumped  as  though  he  had 
been  shot,  and  for  a  moment  1  thought  he  had 
been.  The  Captain  was  rather  staggered  and 
turned  upon  us  with  a  ludicrous,  startled  ex- 
pression, which  soon  gave  way  to  one  of  wrath. 

"  For  if  ever  a  man  was  mad,  it  was  Lieuten- 
ant Hincks,  and  he  opened  on  the  Captain  with 
a  vim.  The  air  was  blue  for  a  time  with  the 
volley  he  gave  him.  It  made  no  odds  to  him 
how  many  bars  Mahoney  wore  on  his  straps. 

'  An'  how  dare  ye.  sorr.'  roared  the  Captain, 
relieved  to  find  Hincks  was  not  actually  shot  by 
his  carelessness— 'how  dare  ye,  sorr,  address 
such  language  to  your  supayrior  officer.  I'll  re- 
port ye,  sorr.'  '  Yes,'  shouted  Hincks,  '  and  I'll 
prefer  charges  against  you,  sir.'  80  they  had  it, 
to  the  delight  of  the  men,  who  chuckled  in  the 
ranks. 

"After  all.  there  wasn't  a  thing  in  that 
bouse,  but  for  a  time  relations  were  strained  on 
the  color  line  between  our  Irish  Captain  and 
excitable  Lieutenant,  who  passed  each  other 
with  great  dignity  on  all  occasions. 

"Afterward,  when  the  attack  was  made  oa 
Marye's  Heights,  we  were  on  the  outskirts  of 
the  town,  and  received  an  order  to  move  a  lit- 
tle more  to  the  left.  To  execute  that  movement 
it  was  necessary  to  get  ou  the  other  side  of  a 
fence,  from  which  several  palings  were  knocked 
off. 

"  Captain  Mahoney  led  the  way,  creeping 
through  a  convenient  hole  in  the  fence,  with  his 
entire  company  at  his  back. 

"Just  as  he  was  pushing  through  the  cavity, 
pop  came  a  ball  wounding  him  in  the  leg.  Down 
he  went  The  sudden  check  was  too  much  for 
his  boys,  who  were  hurrying  behind  him,  and 
down  they  oame  on  top  of  him,  burying  the  un- 
fortunate Captain  under  a  confused  heap  of 
struggling  men. 

"  '  O'i'm  a  dead  man!  O'i'm  a  dead  man  I'  he 
roared. 

"  '  An'  Missus  Mahoney  is  a  widderl' 

"  '  Take  me  to  the  rear,  and  go  back  to  your 
company,'  he  added  with  conscious  dignity. 

"'I    remember  Mahomwr's    famous    orders/ 


•86 


STORIES    OF    OUR    SOLDIERS. 


broke  in  Capt.  Reynolds.  "They  Were  always 
given  in  one  aspiration,  with  more  or  less  sharp 
rising  inflection  at  the  end.  according  to  the 
capacity  of  tue  Captain's  lungs.  He  used  to 
shout  oui  "Head-and-eyes-square-to-the-front- 
«asht-your-eye-now-and-thin-to-ihe-right-or-lifu 
to-see-where-you're-Koin'-forward— ma-a-r-r-ch  I" 
"I  remember,  too,  at  Antietam  an  Orderly  came 
down  to  as  with  orders  to  instruct  the  men  to 
keep  their  placet  in  line,  and  that  a  detail  might 
be  made  to  tret  the  necessary  wood  and  water. 

"  Capt.  Mahoney  delignted  in  nothing  so  much 
as  in  '  Orthers.'  as  he  expressed  it  So  he  shouts: 

"'Attmtion  there.  Company  £  I1 

"'Kignt  dress  1' 

" '  The-orthers-from-headquarthers^is-for-every 
man-to-kape-in-the-same-place  -  in  -  line  -  do  -  you 
hear  -that-  McGib  bon  -  an  -  if  -  anny  -  ma  n  -  wan  ts 
wood-and-wather-let-him-go-and-get-it-  As -you 
werel' 

"tie  was  going  to  tight  a  duel  once  with  Gap- 
tain  Mel,  Merritt  of  Lynn.  We  were  ordered 
to  form  column  of  divisions.  Company  E  was 
standing  in  some  disorder.  Captain  Mahoney 
not  having  commanded  attention. 

"  'You  will  dress  your  company.  Captain  Mer- 
ritt.' said  the  Adjutant, '  on  Captain  Mahoney's.' 

"Mel.  looked  over  uis  shoulder  at  Company  E, 
'  What,  on  that  mob,'  said  he. 

"Quick  as  a  flash  UD  jumped  Captain  Maho- 
ney. 'Mob  is  its1  said  he.  •Attmtion,  Com- 
pany £.  Caotaiu  Merritt,  I  demand  satisfac- 
tion, sorr,'  and  helactually  challenged  Captalu 
Mel  to  a  duel  at  ten  paces. 

"But  .Mahoney  was  a  good  fellow.  He  could 
do  more  with  his  company  than  anybody  else 
could,  and  he  was  a  great  fighter,  lie  was 
scarred  all  over  with  sabre  cuts  obtained  in  the 
Mexican  War." 

Where  is  he  now.  Captain?  I  asked. 

"  Oh,  dead  some  years  ago — since  the  war. 

"The  crowning  incident  of  that  battle  of 
Fredericks  burg  was  how  Lieutenant  Edgar  M, 
Newcomb  of  Boston  picked  up  our  falling  colors 
and  saved  the  line  just  at  the  crucial  point  in 
the  attack  on  Marye's  Heights  on  the  13th  of 
December." 

"Tell  him  about  that,  Cap,"  said  Captain  Rey- 
nolds. 

"  Well,"  resumed  Captain  Hill.  "Lieut  New- 
comb  was  a  Boston  boy.  a  graduate  just  out  of 
Harvard  College.  He  was  a  man  of  slight 
physique,  of  almost  girlish  face,  ami  sucn  su- 
perior culture  and  natural  refinement  that  he 
seemeu  strangely  out  of  place  when  he  came  to 
us.  In  fact,  he  was  about  the  last  man  you 
would  naturally  expect  to  see  in  the  ranks 
among  a  regiment  01  rough  m'en.  He  had  trav- 
eled in  Europe,  too. 

"He  was  a  man,"  said  the  Captain,  "that  I 
did  not  feel  that  i  had  really  come  to  know  until 


after  his  death.     He  was  rery  religious,  with 
deep-seated  convictions." 

"In  fact  a  Christian  soldier,"    said    Captain 
Reynolds 


"The  boys  had  not  caught  on,  as  we  say 
now,"  said  Captain  Hill,  "to  the  nobility  of  New- 
coinu's  ctiaracter.  They  came  to  know  him 
better  when  his  splendid  courage  thrilled  the 
whole  regiment  that  day  on  Marye's  Hill. 

"  There  was  a  tendency  to  scoff  at  his  religious 
tendencies,  and  once  he  was  insulted  by  the 
coarse  vulgarity  of  a  man  who  alter  ward  was 
obliged  to  quit  the  service.  Newcomo  got  op 
and  left  the  table,  walking  quietly  away. 

"  Well,  he  was  made  a  Sergeant  and  Brigade 
Clerk  to  Gen.  F.  W.  Lander.  Then  he  came 
back  to  tne  regiment  as  Sergeant  Major  and 
was  Second  Lieutenant  in  George  Batcuelder's 
company,  C,  which  had  the  colors.  George  was 
killed  at  Antietam,  The  night  before  JNew- 
coinb  and  he  had  shared  the  same  blanket,  and 
Newcomb  read  the  JPsalma  to  him.  The  Captain 
took  his  last  sleep  on  earth.  He  fell  in  the  bat- 
tle of  the  following  day,  and  Edgar  Aewcouib 
was  promoted  to  First  Lieutenant  and  was  in 
command  of  the  colors  on  the  day  in  the  move- 
ment on  Marye's  Heights.  The  Nineteenth  was 
in  its  place  in  line  of  battle  in  Hall's  brigade 
when  the  order  came  to  storm  the  enemy's 
lines — 

" '  Suddenly  flashed  a  sheet  of  flame 

From  hidden  wall  and  ambuscade; 
A  moment  more — they  say  this  is  fame — 

A  thousand  dead  men  on  the  grass  were  laid.' 

"  We  met  a  solid  sheet  ot  lead,  winged  with 
name,  ooured  into  our  faces  from  the  sunken 
road,  and  lost  in  that  fight  seven  color  bearers, 
Bbot  down  one  right  alter  the  other. 

"At  one  time  both  stands  of  colors — national 
and  State— went  down  together.  Then  it  was  I 
saw  Ei gar  M.  Newcomb  jump  right  out  in  front 
of  our  quivering  line,  for  the  regiment  was  be- 
ginning to  shaite.  He  grabbed  both  flags,  one 
in  each  hand,  and  forward  it  was — the  men's 
nerves  were  attain  as  steel. 

"But  the  brave  young  fellow  went  down  like  a 
flash,  shot  through  both  legs,  and  begged  of 
Jack  Adams,  to  wuom  he  passed  the  flags,  not 
to  let  them  fall,  He  died  from  his  wounds  after 
the  baUle. 

"  It  was  one  of  the  bravest  things  I  saw  a  man 
do  in  the  whole  war." 

"  Well,  as  for  the  movement.  Captain?"  "Oh, 
as  to  that, '  said  he  as  his  visitor  rose  to  leave, 
"Burnside  had  no  plan.  It  was  just  a  move- 
ment he  had  to  make.  Nothing  was  accom- 
plished by  it,  but  a  loss  of  men  and  a  waste  of 
money,  it  was  against  Burnside's  judgment, 
but  a  battle  was  demanded,  and  he  yielded." 


*%&$* 
"W^ 
3? 


CAPTAIN    MA  HONEY'S    FANCY    SHOT. 


CHRISTMAS  IN  GAMP. 


•  Along  the  beaten  path  I  pace, 

Where  white  rags  mark  my  sentry's  track; 
In  formless  shrubs  I  seem  to  trace 
The  foeman's  form  with  bending  back. 

'Halt!    who  goes  there?'   My  challenge  cry. 

It  rings  along  the  watchful  line; 
'  Relief ! '  I  hear  a  voice  reply ; 

'  Advance,  and  give  the  countersign  I ' " 

The  blue-coated  sentry,  with  voluminous  army 
•cape,  close  twisted  and  snugly  rolled  about 
neck  and  throat — on  lonely  picket  in  the  ice 
keen  blast  that  sweeps  along  the  winding  course 
of  Bappahannock's  bleak,  forbidding  shore- 
stands  a  stern  and  dimly-outlined  figure  in  the 
mist  of  thirty  years  before  his  sleek,  rotund 
and  exceedingly  comfortable  later  self  this 
Christmas  morning. 

The  man  of  business  dropping  from  dream- 
land shadows  to  the  things  that  are.  rolls  Irom 
his  warm,  seductive  couch,  shuddering,  yet 
fascinated,  at  his  martial  wraith  of  days  long 
gone,  and  whispers  to  himself,  "  Ah,  yes,  that 
was  myself.  I  stood  there  then  for  glory." 

But  tonight,  while  yet  tbe  aftermath  lights 
the  western  sky,  from  deep  within  the  glowing 
ember  caverns  of  the  open  fire,  with  well  sharp- 
ened memory  pencil,  he  will  draw  a  fascinating 
back-log  picture  of  Christmas  tide  in  army  days 
for  his  boys  and  girls. 

There  he  stands,  again  the  stalwart  young 
picket,  with  low  drawn  cap  and  shading  vizor, 
and  ready  trusty  rifle,  half-cocked  and  capped, 
resting  in  the  hollow  of  his  arm. 

So  as  he  stands,  his  gaze  sweeps  the  further 
bank  for  any  skulking  foe,  or  stealthy  skirmish 
line,  and  then  1m  mental  vision  moves  back- 
ward to  the  hearthstone,  and  forward,  too.  until 
perchance  in  ideal  outline,  dimly  seen  in  futu- 
rity's roseate  halo,  he  stands  face  to  face  with 


his  very  present  and  actual   later  self   of  30 
years  thereafter. 

The  crisp  hard  crusted  snow  cracks  sharply, 
'neath  his  steady  tread  in  the  chill  and  resonant 
air. 

Again  we  see  the  dreary  picket  pathway  take 
shape  before  him  beside  the  river  bank,  while 
to  the  rear  there  rises  a  picturesque  encampment 
of  white-capped  huts,  from  whose  odd  chim- 
neys, curling  lazily  upward  in  tie  silence  of 
this  gloaming  hour  of  the  short  December  day, 
rises  the  smoke  of  the  camp-tire. 

"That  winter  camo  at  Fal mouth,  with  Hall's 
brigade  before  Fredericksburg.  was  about  the 
most  comfortable  we  ever  had  of  its  kind,"  re- 
marked the  old  Adjutant,  knocking  the  ashes 
out  of  his  pipe-bowl  ready  for  a  fresh  charge, 
"though  to  be  sure  the  country  was  dismal 
enough/' 

"  Won't  you  give  the  Journal  a  picture  of  it 
'Cap'?"  said  I. 

The  veteran  methodically  rolled  the  moiat 
fragments  of  the  well-shaved  plug.  Dressed 
them  firmly  home  in  the  bowl,  and  as  he 
watched  the  dying  flame  of  the  match  upon 
the  fast  kindling  tobacco,  blew  forth  a  huge 
cloud  of  fragrant  smoke  ami  began: 

"You  see  the  boys  would  chum  together, 
usually  four,  sometimes  two,  but  not  often  six 
They  would  co  into  the  woods  and  cut  down 
some  good-sized  young  trees. 

"  These  were  cut  into  logs,  each  of  which  wa« 
neatly  cleft  in  two.  Then  these  logs  were 
notched  at  the  ends  and  placed  one  unon  an- 
other, with  the  smooth  side  in.  and  the 
rounded,  bark-covered  portion  out." 

"Something  like  a  log  cabin?" 

"Exactly 


90 


STORIES    OF    OUR    SOLDIERS. 


"Well,  the  cracks  between  we  plastered  with 
Virginia  clay.  Falmonth  was  rich  in  that. 

"The  logs  were  piled  up  about  as  high  as  the 
sides  of  a  wall  tent  or  a  trifle  higher.  Then  the 
four  tent  mates  tooK  their  shelter  tents.  >  ut- 
toned  them  together,  and  that  made  the  too." 

"Wasn't  it  cold  inside?" 

"Oh.  no!  Every  'stockade*  had  its  fireplace 
and  a  pretty  big  one,  too,  plenty  large  sometimes 
for  a  good-sized  stick. 

"The  big  cob  chimney  was  the  poetical  feat- 
ure. It  was  built  of  short  sticks,  laid  criss 
cross,  'cob'  fashion,  and  to  finish  it,  for  a  cap- 
piece,  a  barrel  was  stuck  on  top. 

"I  never  knew  one  of  those  chimneys  to 
catch  afire.  The  wood  was  green,  and  the  blaze 
was  not  very  lively,  though  plenty  warm. 

'* '  Cept.'  said  the  Adjutant,  with  a  sudden 
strong  pull  at  his  dying  pice,  '  when  some  fel- 
low would  come  along,  and  gently  drou  a  hand- 
ful of  cartridges  down  the  chimney,  just  to  re- 
lieve tue  monotony. 

**  Then,  gee  whizz,  what  a  clatter;  how  every- 
thing would  go  up  in  smoke,  and  bang! — down 
came  our  chimney  top  to  roll  down  upon  the 
Hurrying  guard. 

•  *  Who  did  that?' 

"*  Pretty  sharp. 

*"Tis  the  Officer  of  the  Day." 

"Well,  who  did?  You  never  saw  such  a  cir- 
cle of  blank  faces,  and  half  the  regiment  was 
there. 

"Must  have  been  a  comet  straight  from 
heaven,  so  far  as  any  of  that  innocent  crowd 
could  telL 

'"Call  the  roll.  Sergeant,  and  muster  the 
men.' 

"  Boys  all  fell  in  of  course  in  the  company 
street— not  a  man  absent  on  his  life. 

"  But  it  never  was  any  use.  and  the  Captain 
knew  it.  it  was  the  most  singular  thing  where 
those  spare  cartridge*  did  come  from,  and  how 
that  chimney  came  to  bust.  The  old  man  would 
turn  away  with  a  wink  in  his  eye. 

"And  the  fellows  in  the  stockade  never  made 
any  fuss.  They  knew  better. 

But  the  beds.  Oh,  the  beds  of  that  camp 
were  perfect  poems.  We  would  take  one  side 
of  the  stockade  and  make  the  frame.  Then  we 
cut  (our  pieces  of  timber  for  stringers.  After 
that  tree  boughs  were  filled  into  the  space  and 
on  them  we  put  a  row  of  barrel  staves,  topping 
off  the  whole  with  pine  branches.  Then  you 
had  a  spring  bed  that  couldn't  be  surpassed. 

"On  those  fragrant  resinous  conches  we  slept 
the  sleep  of  the  just 

"We  had  none  of  the  domestic  bedfellows 
that  our  good  wife  holds  such  mortal  enmity 
for,  but  we  did  have  another  chap  that  would 
put  any  ordinary  bug  in  the  shade,  and  that 
was  the  woodtick. 

"The  peculiarity  of  this  vindictive  little 
wretch  is  that  he  buries  his  entire  head  into 
i  he  flesh  of  his  victim. 

"  And  unless  a  man  pulls  him  out  just  so,  that 
head  is  dead  sure  to  break  off  under  the  skin 
ana  stay  there,  in  which  event  it  makes  about 
the  worst  kind  of  »  sore  a  man  ever  endured 
from  anything  so  small. 


"Some  of  our  boys  became  such  experts  in 
pulling  out  wood  ticks  that  they  were  Profes- 
sionally consulted  about  every  morning  by  their 
less  skillful  fellows. 

"Those  were  pleasant  days  until  the  order 
came  from  Fredericksburg,  and  we  went  across 
the  river. 

"But  as  to  Christmas,  I  do  not  remember  any 
special  observance  of  it  in  the  old  Nineteenth. 
Our  big  time  in  '61  was  at  Camp  Benton  on 
Thanksgiving  Day,  and  in  '62  our  hearts  were 
too  sore  for  the  brave  fellows  left  on  the  slopes 
of  Marye's  Heights  for  any  general  holiday  cele- 
bration. 

"Our  companies  were  scattered  in  picketing 
the  river,  but  I  remember  in  '61  jolly  trips  to 
Darnestown  to  see  the  Captain  and  his  merry 
First  Sergeant. 

"We  drank  egg  nogg.  toasting  old  King 
Christmas  with  the  wassail  red  while  we  sang — 

"In  his  fine,  honest  pride,  be  scorns  to  hide 
One  jot  of  his  hard  weather  scars; 
They're  no  disgrace,  for  there's  much  the  same  trace 
On  the  cheeks  of  oar  bravest  tars. 
Then  again  I  sing  till  the  roof  doth  ring. 
And  It  echoes  from  wall  to  wall- 
To  the  stout  old  wight,  fair  welcome  to-night, 
AS  the  king  of  the  seasons  all." 
"Oh   yes,"   said   Captain   Mel.  breaking  out 
from  a  reverie,  "  I  was  Provost  Marshal  there." 
Darnestown  was  the  natural  gateway  for  the 
Montgomery  County   pike     road    through    to 
Poolesville  and  Frederick  and  all  those  places. 
My  headquarters  were  at  Rockville  and  Bill 
P.  was  my  Deputy. 
"  You  remember  Bill?    Major,  you  know  tnat 

kept  the  hotel  down  in  S . 

General  Gorman  commanded  our  brigade 
then,  and  Banks — Nat.  P. — was  our  Division 
Commander. 

Gorman  hailed  from  Minnesota.  Senator  he 
was  since  the  war  I  think,  and  a  dreadful  pom- 
pous man  was  he. 

Ue  used  to  swell  round  in  citizens'  clothes  to 
catch  the  sentries. 
Well,  one  dav  Bill  brought  him  to  a  halt. 

" '  Can't  pass  here,'  says  he. 
"But  I  am  Brigadier  General  Gorman.' 

"'Yes  you  are,'  says  Bill. 

"'\oung  man.  do  you  know  who  I  am?  I  com- 
mand this  brigade.' 

'"You  be  damned,'  says  Bill,  in  that  polite 
way  of  his. 

1 '  You  shall  pay  for  this,  young  man.'  says, 
the  General,  half  choking  with  wr  ith. 

"'Oh  yes  I  will:  where  s  your  pass?' 

*"1  aon't  require  one,  sir;  I  issue  the  passes 
nsed  on  this  line.' 

' '  Well.  then,  vou  produce  one  darn  quick,' 
says  my  deputy. 'or  the  guard  shall  have  you.' 

Well,  he  kept  the  General  there_  for  an  hour 
storming  and  threatening  and  cajoling,  to  no 
purpose. 

"Finally  he  demanded  the  Provost.  Down  I 
went  of  course.  'Do  you  know  me,  sir?'  says 
Gorman  sternly.  Bill  gave  me  a  quick  shot 
from  his  eyes  behind  the  General's  back.  Well,, 
of  course,  it  wouldn't  have  done  to  have  admit- 


CHRISTMAS    IN    CAMP. 


91 


ted  too  much,  for  that  would    put  my  deputy  in 
a  bad  place.' 

"  I  was  non-committal,  ana  after  fully  an 
hour's  parley  we  allowed  the  General's  orderly 
to  be  sent  for 

"And  then,  oi  course  explanations  were 
D  refuse. 

"  someol  us  looked  for  trouble,  but  Bill  P— 
was  calm  as  a  slock,  and  next  day  proved  he 
had  gauged  the  old  man  right,  for  Gorman 
actually  complimented  him  in  orders 

Perry  Trail;,  an  old  Secesh,  the  bitterest  kind 
of  "a  sympathizer."  Kept  tne  tavern.  One 
morning  about  Christmas  time  one  of  my  boys 
saw  Perry  give  the  stage  driver  a  package.'1 

"Original  package.  Cap'n?" 

"No,  documents,  papers. '' 

'  The  grocery  store  was  a  perfect  hot-bed  ol 
tiecesh.  so  mucti  so  that  we  kept  one 
man  among  'em  all  the  time.  They  were  plot- 
ting day  and  night. 

Well,  when  the  stage  came  down  that  morn 
ing.  we  hauled  it  up  and  pulled  that  stage 
driver  off. 

The  package  proved  so  valuable  that  we 
deemed  it  important  to  send  a  man  with  it  and 
the  coach  driver  to  Washington. 

Moses  F.  Carr  volunteered,  and  he  was  so 
eager  that  he  actually  "frogged  it"  all  the  way 
along  the  low-path.  Mose  was  young  then. 

'  That  Christmas  week  we  made  a  rich  little 
haul  of  about  one  hundred  stand  of  arms 
and  75.000  rounds  of  cartridges,  that  our  Secesh 
friend"  were  keeping  very  choice  up  in  a  loft 
over  the  Free  Mason's  room. 

"  Well,  about  the  '  egg  nogg. '  Cap? ' 

"Oh,  yes.  You  see  on  Christmas  Day  some 
lew  of  the  old  residents  kept  open  house. 

"We  hadn't  many  friends,  for  with  the  excep- 
tion of  ex-Seriator  Bowie,  who  was  a  lawyer  and 
Union  man.  about  everybody  else  was  Secesh. 
and  would  sling  rebel  talk  right  in  our  faces. 

"  But  Dr.  Summers  and  Frank  Biers  kept  open 
house  for  all  our  officers  and  men— mighty  fine 
set  of  fellows  they  were  in  A  company,  old 
Nineteenth.  There  were  pine  boughs  and  b  illy 
ana  egg  nogg  and  flip  till  morning  light 


'  And  a  ball.  Cap?" 

'Well,  hardly  that;  for  the  women  of  the 
town  were  bitter  secesh,  and  the  very  few  belles 
were  of  the  maroon  variety,  but  tne  boys  made 
up  for  all  deficiencies. 

"But  we  kem  up  the  fun  till  morning." 

"  And  took  good  care  of  the  dead  ana 
wounded?  " 

"  Yes,  surely. ' 

"  Ah  I  "  said  the  staff  officer,  how  many  good 
times  there  were  round  Washington  in  "61. 
when,  after  a  night's  romancing  and  a  sweet 
leave  taking  on  the  wide  old  verandah :  it  was 
a  quick  mount  and— 

"Claah,  clash  goes  tne  sabre  against  my  steed  9  aide 
Rllng,  kllng  go  the  rowels  as  onward  I  ride; 
And  all  my  bright  harness  is  living,  and  speaks, 
As  under  my  horse  shoes  the  frosty  ground  creaks 
I  wave  my  buff  glove  to  the  girl  whom  I  love, 
Theo  Join  my  dark  squadron  and  forward  I  move.' 

Those  were  merry  Christmas  times,  indeed 


'We  were  at  Falmouth.  too,"  said  Comraac 
Dscar  Schmidt  of  Blenker  ?  division. 

"  1  was  only  a  little  drummer  boy  then— )uat 
11  years  old  when  I  left  New  York  in  Company 
A  cf  the  Twenty-ninth  German  Regiment.  Capt 
Warnecke's  company 

"  Why,  you  must  be  the  lone  sought  youngest 
soldier  of  the  war,  comrade?" 

"Ach  nein."  was  the  reply,  with  a  srood 
humored  simile.  "  There  was  little  Lehmann 
in  my  regiment,  too.  who  wasn't  but  nine  years 
old.  He  w>s  the  youngest  drummer  we  had." 

"And  what  became  of  him— is  he  living?" 

"  Dead,  tie  was  killed  at  Chancellorsvillo. 
when  they  flanked  us." 

"So— that  was  too  bad     What  a  loss  to  tame." 

'We  were  put  into  Steinwehr's  brigade,  (he 
Second  Brigade  of  General  Bleuker's  Division. 
and  our  first  work  was  building  the  forts  round 
Washington,  so  we  didn't  have  much  time  for 
Christmas,"  continued  the  pleasant-faced  young 
German,  for  young  he  is  still. 

"In  '62  we  went  down  to  the  Rappahannock. 
and  there  we  cut  down  all  the  trees— beautiful 
cedar  trees,  too.  It  seemed  a  pity  " 

"  Ah.  then  you  were  the  fellows  who  made 
that  country  the  barren  waste  that  Hall's  Brig 
ade  found  it?" 

"Ye».  1  suppose  so.  but  we  had  19  obey  orders." 
and  Comraue  Schmidt  smiled  again. 

"  In  '62."  he  said,  "our  camp  was  at  Hunter's 
Chapel.  Virginia.  I  remember  those  huts.  We 
bad  the  same.  We  could  make  tnem  so  hot  in- 
side that  you  couldn't  stay  in  them  sometimes 
for  long. 

"  Well,  at  Christmas  the  huts  would  be  dee- 
orated  with  evergreen  and  holly.  Some  o!  onr 
boys— for  the  regiment  was  most  all  young 
shavers— would  have  boxes  from  home— knick- 
kuacKs  and  Khein  Wein.  Vve  little  drummers 
would  be  off  by  ourselves  up  on  the  headquarter 
line,  while  the  men  played  at  '  Zweicken  '  " 

"What's  that,  comrade? " 

•  •  Something  that  puts  fan-tan  into  the  shade. ' 
with  a  smile 

"Then  the  men  would  sing  the  old  songs— 'Was 
1st  das  Deutsche  Vateriaud,'  and  the  drummer 
boys  woulu  follow  it  with  'Morten  Koth" 
('Morning  Red*),  their  fresh  young  voices 
blending  welL  That  was  a  boy  choir  for  you! 

"Then  the  whoie  regiment  would  join  in  with 

Wer  da  Will  Unter  die  Soldaten?'  r  Who 
Would  Go  for  a  Soldier?'),  and  wind  UP  with 
'  Im  Wald  und  der  Heide"  ("  In  the  Woods  and 
In  the  Desert ')— that  was  because  we  had  cut 
down  all  the  fine  young  cedars.  "  See?" 

" '  Die  Wacht  am  Rnein'  hadn't  come  into 
being  then,  comrade?  " 

"  No.  Germany  wasn't  then  united.  It  was  all 
separated  That  didn't  come  along  till  the 
Franco-Prussian  war  of  1870. 

•'Well,  now  and  then  for  Christmas  a  soldier 
would  have  a  tree  in  front  of  his  hut.  and  we'd 
have  the  Christ  Kindel  (Christ  child)  for  a  few 
of  us  by  one  of  our  flaxen-haired  drummers. 

"  But  that  was  only  for  our  circle,  you  might 

•»y. 

11  There  was  always  plenty  of  evergreen,  but 
most  of  tne  men  would  rather  sit  round  drink 


92 


STORIES   OF   OUR   SOLDIERS. 


me  iager  and  sznoXe  der  cieile.  while  they  tola 
ttpries  " 

"  Was  you  ever  hit,  comrade?  " 

"Twice.  There's  one  place,"  showing  a  short- 
ened and  long  broken  finger  and  then  I  was 
»not  through  the  thigh." 

"Youi  place  was  with  the  ambulance  corps 
and  the  stretchers,  wasn't  it,  as  a  drummer?  " 

"\es,  we  wore  the  red  cross,  and  it  was  there 
that  I  got  hit." 


It  was  on  the  second  field  of  Bull  Run.  1  hau 
oeen  carrying  the  stretchers  with  the  other 
drummers,  and  when  the  line  fell  back  our  hos 
pital  was  the  last  one  that  was  taken. 

"  Captain  Dilke's  battery  came  along,  and  he 
advised  all  that  could  walk  to  get  out  of  there 
and  to  the  rear  as  fast  as  they  were  able. 

"  So  we  started,  and  I  was  going  back  with 
those  that  could  walk, when  the  rebs  opened  fire 
right  into  us.  and  it  was  there  1  got  this  "  show 
ing  his  maimed  hand. 

"Thousands  of  our  wounded  fell  into  the 
hands  of  the  enemy. 

"  Our  first  fighting  was  at  the  First  Battle  of 
Bull  Kun.  We  were  in  the  reserve,  but  we  had 
a  little  skirmish  fighting  with  the  Black  Horse 
Cavalry  We  were  at  Strasburg,  and  marched 
through  the  Shenandoah  Valley  to  effect  the 
junction  between  McDowell  and  McClel'lan. 
Afterwards  we  were  under  Fremont  in  West 
Virginia." 

"  Ever  beat  the  charge,  comrade?  "Oh.  yes 
they  made  r*  do  that,  too." 

"  Then  there  is  some  ground  for  the  brave 
Color  Sergeant  and  the  little  drummer  leading 
the  advancing  line?" 

"  Well,  now,  about  that  i  don't  know  They 
used  to  put  us  with  the  colors  to  stir  UP  the 
men,  but  the  drummer's  place  was  with  the  o. 
fleers,  just  in  the  rear  of  the  line  of  battle 

"Sometimes  the  line  would  get  separated  a  lit- 
tle, ana  then  we  boys  were  right  in  the  face  of 
the  whole  of  it.  as  well  as  the  men. 

That  was  the  way  little  Lehmann  was  killed. 

"lie  was  beating  the  charge— the  call  to  the 
color — on  the  flank  at  Chancellorsville.  when 
they  swept  down  on  our  line  and  turned  it  back. 
The  boy  fell,  shot  through.  He  was  only  nine 
years  old,  as  I  told  you. 

"  1  had  my  experience  with  the  colors  at  Cross 
Keys  on  the  8tb  of  June,  '62.  It  was  quite  a 
little  battle,  too. 

"  We  were  in  the  pioneer  corps  after  Freder 
icksuurg  and  our  men  built  the  roads  and  cut 
out  a  passage*  for  the  artillery. 

"Christmas  then  we  passed  mostly  on  out-post 
duty. 

"1  tell  you  what."  said  Corporal  O  Kaisy  "  ol 
the  old  Twelfth,  "you  fellows  of  the  Nine- 
teenth might  have  had  a  comfortable  camp  at 
Falmouth,  but  is  wasn't  a  circumstance  to  our 
Camp  Hicks  in  '61  at  Frederick.  We  had  a 
regular  cantonment — a  village,  so  to  speak. 
Tne  huts  averaged  16  by  14,  and  were  buiit  of 
logs  placed  one  above  another  to  a  height  of, 
say,  six  feet.  The  roofs  were  ot  rough  boards 

"Each  hut  had  a  door  and  a  window  and  tnen 


(here  was  a  stove— a  rea.  stove,  with  its  pi»e 
sticking  UD  through  the  roof. 

"To  be  sure,  the  stove  was  capable  of  holding 
only  a  very  small  cord  of  wood. 

"There  were  three  tiers  of  bunks  in  the  hut  for 
the  men. 

"And  in  such  calm,  delightful  repose  we  blos- 
somed forth  a  poet  whose  muse  evolved : 

Here  g  to  the  Twelfth,  wtc  one  ana  all 

On  far  Potomac's  wooded  banks, 
Wait  but  the  trumpet's  thrilling  cal'  — 
impatient  at  the  interval 

To  charge  the  foe  with  serriea  ranns 

'With  more  of  equally  spirited  tcne. 

"I  can't  say  much  of  the  cold  side  cf  King. 
Christmas."  said  Amos.  "  for  down  in  Louisiana 
we  found  very  little  frost  in  him,  I  can  tell  you. 
and  he  met  us  only  in  his  warmest  mood. 

"That's  the  only  kick  'Geranium'  made.  There 
was  altogether  too  much  July  about  Christmas 
that  year  in  the  Fiftietti  to  suit  him. 

"He  had  a  box  come  from  home,  and  as  usual 
only  his  chums  were  in  it. 

"I  was  one  of  the  outsiders.  Well,  i  sauntered 
over  to  his  tent  just  as  'Geranium' had  the  cover 
off  and  was  pulling  out  three  great  long  bologna 
sausages. 


1  liked  bologna  first  rate.especially  after  some 
weeks  of  army  grub,  but  i  knew  there  was  no 
invitation  for  me  in  that  crowd. 

"I  shut  one  eye,  opened  the  other,  and  saw  my 
chance.  Those  bolognas  were  pretty  near 
white.  Perhaps  you  know  their  outside  wrap 
will  at  timea  in  warm  weather  show  mould. 

"The  climate  was  so  hot  that  they  exhibited 
that  peculiarity  without  at  all  affecting  the  in- 
terior.  It  is  only  necessary  to  say  that  we  had 
had  it  very  hot 

"I  looked  at  those  sausages  very  hard,  and  held 
up  my  hands. 

"  'Just  like  the  womenfolks,  1  said,  'they 
don't  know  any  better  than  that' 

•  What  do  you  mean?'  says  he.  turning  over 
the  bologna  doubtfully. 

"  'What,  voure'  not  going  to  eat  those.'  said  I. 
with  affected  horror. 

" 'Certainly,'  says  Geranium,  '  why  not?' 

''What,  in  this  climate  man?' 

"  'Why.  ain't  they  all  right?  '  says  ha 

'  'Sure  death,'  said  I. 

"  'But  what'll  I  do  with  'em? 

"'Carry  them  down  behind  the  sinks  and 
bury  them.'  said  I. 

"  'Geranium'  eyed  me  suspiciously,  but  I  was 
as  bland  and  childlike  as  I  could  look.    Then  he 
tried  to  play  foxey.     He  was  afraid  to  leave  his 
box. 
.     " '  You  do  IV  savs  he. 

All  right,  said  I,'  but  i  should  trunk  you 
might  give  a  fellow  a  hunk  of  gingerbread  for 
doing  it.1  He  handed  me  out  a  good  bit,  and  off 
I  went  with  the  sausages. 

"  Frank  and  1  just  scraped  off  that  mold  and 
peeled  off  the  skin,  but  it  took  us  a  couple  of 
days  to  bury  those  bolognas,  and  when  we  got 
through  with  them  he  and  I  both  agreed  that 
they  were  the  best  sausages  we  ever  ate,  but  w» 
had  to  put  up  a  bold  front  to  '  Geranium  '  when 


CHRISTMAS    IN    WINTER    QUARTERS. 


CHRISTMAS    IN    CAMP. 


95 


tie  spied  some  bologna  skins  one  day  under  our 
tent  guys. 

"  Some  time  after  that  'Geranium'  bad  another 
DOX  and  we  couldn't  get  anywhere  near  it 

"There  were  five  of  us  scapegraces  in  one 
tent,  and  we  all  drew  lots  to  see  who  should  go 
into  'Geranium's'  after  the  box 

"It  fell  to  me,  having  the  shortest  straw 
Over  I  went  and  reconnoitred.  I  found  the  men 
were  all  sleeping  with  their  heads  to  the  sides, 
feet  to  centre.  We  had  it  all  fixed  in  case  of  via- 
covery.  to  loosen  the  tent  guys  and  dowse  the 
whole  canvas 

"  The  pins  were  all  pulled,  and  1  walked  into 
the  tent  at  the  time  appointed,  but  as  though 
the  deuce  were  in  it,  I  found,  that  it  being  a  hot 
night,  the  men  had  changed  position  and  their 
heads  were  in  the  centre 

'The  first  thing  that  1  knew  I  put  one  foot 
right  down  on  '  Geranium's '  face. 

"My  gracious!'  he  hollered,  startinsr  ap 
wildly. 

"Down  came  the  tent  upon  the  whole  of  us. 
and  in  the  confusion  I  rolled  out  from  under 
the  canvas  and  escaped,  but  'Geranium'  had 
grabbed  one  foot,  and  I  was  obliged  to  leave 
with  the  loss  of  a  shoe. 

"I  jumped  into  Company  B  street  and  zot 
another  very  quickly. 

"When  the  guard  came  up  all  five  of  us  fellows 
were  snoring  in  our  tent  as  innocently  as 
lapbs,  though  they  flashed  the  lantern  over  us. 
'Next  morning  the  company  was  mustered, 
and  the  Captain  neld  up  my  shoe.  None  of  us 
owned  it,  and  every  man  had  his  on  his  feet  It 
was  a  close  call,  but  we  got  out  of  it  that  time 

'  And  then  there  was  that  Christmas  on  Folly 


island,  with  the  Fortieth,  on  that  maarninceni 
hard  sand,  where  an  entire  battefy  might  ma- 
neuyro  without  leaving  an  imprint  of  wheel  or 
hoof,  with  Charleston  city  dimly  outlined  far 
up  the  bay,  and  Sumter's  grim  and  shell  torn 
battlements  at  the  apex  of  our  triangle,  the 
whole  broad  ocean  before  our  sentries,  and  the 
jungle,  with  its  tough,  impenetrable  roots  and 
branches  in  our  midst. 

''Christmas  under  the  giant  cotton  woods,  with 
their  hoary  pen  ii  ant  Southern  moss  sweeping 
the  ground  beneath  their  low  branches 

"Christmas, too,  in  the  hospitals  at  Georgetown 
and  Baltimore  iust  after  Fredricksburg  and  An 
tietam 

"Who  ol  those  60C  wounded,  scarred  and 
maimed  fellows  at  Stuart's,  in  Dunbarton  street, 
and  the  old  Methodist  Church  at  Georgetown, 
can  forget  the  dainty  feast  arranged  for  that 
merry  Christmas  by  the  tender  hands  cf  those 
devoted,  loving  women. 

"Who  that  does  not  remember  the  impressive 
spectacle  01  those  200  heroes  marching  into 
dinner,  when  'roast  beef  sounded  lively  on 
bugle  and  drum,  brought  them,  between  the 
green  twined  pillars,  fragrant  with  the  odor  of 
the  pine  and  beneath  tue  tastefully  draped 
colors,  marching  as  best  they  might  to  the 
strains  oT 

Rany  Round  toe  Flag   Beys ' 

from  the  little  Zouave  band.  Soldiers  with  but 
a  single  arm.  soldiers  whose  crutches  told  a 
patbetic  story,  but  all  of  them  ready  again  to  do 
and  to  dare  for  union  and  for  liberty. 

"So  to-day  wo  rejoice  again  with  old  Uncle 
Remus  that  de  Lord  mus'  be  on  our  side,  for  de 
turkies  is  roostin'  pow'ful  low  dis  yar  winter  " 


JOHN  W.  HUTCHINSON. 


"He  bears  the  cross  bravely"  reads  the  crest 
of  the  first  Hutchinson  known  to  history— Ber- 
nard of  Cowan,  in  old  York,  living  in  the  year 
1282.  the  eighth  of  the  reign  of  the  first  Edward 
—'Ye  Longshanks  '  Norman  King. 

The  terse  Latin  phrase  happily  typifies  the 
striking  characteristic  of  a  brave  race  as  traced 
from  root  to  branch  of  the  family  tree. 

Nowhere  is  it  more  strongly  exemplified  than 
in  the  career  of  the  loner  time  famous  Hutchin- 
son family,  without  whom  no  anti-slavery 
group  stands  complete.  The  brave  singers 
whose  voices  were  first  uplifted  for  liberty  and 
universal  freedom  fully  fifty  years  ago. 

Garrison,  Phillips,  May,  Collins,  Sumner  and 
Hutchinson  blend  naturally  together. 

"There  were  four  Quartettes  in  that  family, 
and  each  with  a  girl,"  wrote  Mary  Howitt 

Yet  to-day  there  sings  but  one.  But  his  voice 
has  no  quaver,  and  is  as  mellow,  strong  and 
true  as  though  no  seventy-second  milestone  of 
life's  way  lies  abreast  of  him. 

He  sits  at  his  cherished  organ,  and  his  fingers 
lightly  sweep  the  keys,  as  with  face  uplifted  he 
sines  again  the  dear  old  ma  irigals  and  glees: 

"In  the  State  of  Massachusetts, 

In  the  grand  old  town  of  Lynn, 
There's  a  famous  range  of  ledges 

As  eye  hath  rarely  seen. 
Two  hundred  feet,  the  highest  point. 

Looms  up  this  rugged  block, 
And  it's  known  throughout  New  England 

A»  'Old  High  Rock.'^' 

Wednesday  its  loving  owner  was  72  years  old. 
and  but  a  few  yesterdays  since  the  writer 
climbed  the  old.  steep  stone  steps,  seemingly 
ohisiled  into  its  sloping  base,  to  reach  the 
pretty  tower  cottage  in  which  he  dwells,  to 
convey  to  him  the  best  wishes  of  the  Journal, 
and  to  hear  from  his  lips  the  thrilling  story  of 
how  he  sang  that  grand  hymn  of  Whittier's— "A 
Consuming  Fire  is  Our  God"— right  on  the 
borderland  of  slavery, 


Just  in  the  shadow  of  that  rugged  old  sentinel 
which  his  song  immortalizes  dwells  this  stirring 
singer  of  days  lang  syne. 

Standing  on  the  crest  of  the  rock  itself,  breath- 
less from  the  steep  climb  on  the  narrow  iron 
stair  that  scales  the  sheer  face  of  the  perpendic- 
ular ledges,  we  throw  back  our  shoulders,  ex- 
pand the  chest,  and  draw  in,  in  grateful  respira- 
tions, the  enlivening  oxygen  of  the  keen  frosty 
air — the  pure,  bracing  breath  of  the  north  wind. 

Then,  when  the  grandeur  of  that  wide  ex- 
panse of  glittering  sea  and  shore  from  Magnolia 
and  Kettle  Cove  to  Boston  light  and  far  Nan 
tasket  fills  our  soul,  and  we  note  below  us  tho 
bustling  streets  and  hundreds  of  busy  factories 
betokening  the  thrift  and  energy  of  a  free  peo- 
ple, how  is  it  possible  to  wonder  that  John  W. 
Hutchinson,  for  whom  each  morning  sun  has 
revealed  this  entrancing  vision  of  God's  country, 
should  break  forth  into  song,  or  that  the  broad 
spirit  of  universal  liberty  should  pervade  his 
whole  life? 

We  were  so  fortunate  as  to  find  Mr.  Hutchin 
son  at  home,  and  he  gave  us  most  cordial  greet 
ing. 

" I  shall  be  only  too  glad."  he  said,  "to  give 
the  Journal  all  T  can  about  the  Hutchinson  fam- 
ily, though  to  tell  all  1  know  would  fill  a  book 
as  big  as  this.  I  fear,"  bringing  his  hand  down 
upon  the  huge  old  family  concordanca 

Mr.  Hutchinson  has  a  very  strong  individ-u- 
ality  of  his  own.  His  aspect  is  most  patriarchal. 
The  long  white  hair,  covering  his  head  in  pro- 
fusion, falls  upon  his  shoulders,  while  his  face 
is  half  concealed  behind  heavy  gray  moustache 
and  flowing  beard,  almost  as  white  as  the  hair 
itself. 

The  expression  of  the  face  is  kindly— that  of 
the  eyes  especially  pleasant  He  is  not  above 
medium  Height,  out  his  personality  is  striking. 


JOHN   W.    HUTCHINSON. 


99 


He  wore  a  loose  sack  coat  when  the  writer 
called,  and  wide-brimmed  soft  black  felt  upon 
his  head. 

Whether  from  old  associations  connected  with 
his  early  singing:  days,  or  from  continuous  habit, 
dating  from  even  farther  back,  Mr.  Hntchinson 
adouts  the  very  wide  white  linen  collar  of  Oli- 
ver Cromwell  and  the  Puritan  of  olden  time. 
This  collar  is  attached  to  the  vest.  Yet  it  is  in 
perfect  keeping  with  the  flowing:  hair  and 
beard. 

'Tis  as  "Father  Hutchinson"  and  "Uncle 
John"  he  is  known  to  the  younger  tolk— but 
Brother  John  it  was  in  the  dear  old  days  of 
long  ago. 

But  one  cannot  in  Mr.  Hutchinson's  presence 
feel  that  he  is  conversing  with  an  old  man. 

Far  from  it.  His  tone  is  sprightly,  his  steo 
energetic,  his  form  erect,  and  his  spirit  as 
young  as  though  his  span  of  years  were  reduced 
..y  a  full  score  al  least 


Mr.  Hutchinson's  home  is  like  himself — 
modest,  yet  attractive  in  all  its  furnishings. 
There  is  a  sunny  double  parlor,  in  the  rear  por- 
tion of  which  is  his  desk.  A  library  table  stands 
close  beside,  piled  higli  with  all  the  newspapers 
of  the  day  and  recent  magazines. 

The  walls  are  covered  with  cherished  relics  of 
the  master's  varied  experiences — photos  of  the 
old  Mill ord  home ;  a  irroup  of  ten  of  the  Hutch- 
inson brothers,  including  Mr.  Hutchinson ;  the 
Tribe  of  John— himself,  his  wife,  his  much 
-cherished  son  Henry  J.  Hutchinson.  now  dead, 
and  the  latter's  wife,  Mrs.  Lillie  Hutchinson. 
si  nee  remarried. 

Then  there  is  a  portrait  of  the  dear  sister 
Abbie  —  Mrs.  Ludlow  Patten  —  who  recently 
passed  on.  This  picture  was  painted  by  Carpen- 
ter, the  distinguished  artist. 

Directly  opposite  it  is  the  upright  piano  at 
which  Mr.  Hutchinson  still  spends  many  of  his 
leisure  moments. 

Mr.  Hutchinson's  household,  besides  himself, 
consists  of  his  son  Judson  and  his  housekeeper. 

He  has  quite  a  little  settlement  about  him  on 
the  foot  slopes  of  the  Rock,  and  his  code  of 
rules  governing  his  tenants  is  clear,  concise  and 
unique. 

Tue  having  of  intoxicating  liquors  in  the 
house  for  a  beverage  is  strictly  forbidden,  and 
the  coming  home  intoxicated  by  the  tenant  is 
sufficient  to  break  the  contract  and  at  once  to 
terminate  his  occupancy  of  Mr.  Hutchinson's 
property.  Each  lessee  receives  these  rules 
plainly  printed  on  a  card  with  the  key  of  the 
tenement  he  hires.  He  is  expected  to  abide  by 
them  implicitly  or  vacate  immediately. 

The  old  gentleman  is  kept  quite  busy  looking 
after  his  various  houses. 


"  There,"  said  he,  inviting  his  caller  to  re- 
move his  heavy  coat,  and  opening  a  door  into 
the  front  hall.  "  I  wish  I  had  that  lighted  for 
yon,"  pointing  down  to  a  huge  back  log  and 
lore  stick  on  the  fire  dogs  in  an  attractive  open 
fireplace  bordered  with  old  tiles  illustrating  the 
parable  of  the  sower.  "  I  sit  here  often  in  the 
«veninsrs  and  enjoy  my  fire."  he  said. 


"  Now.  then,  where  shall  I  begin?"  he  contin- 
ued, lying  back  comfortably  in  his  easy  cnair. 
and  closing  his  eyes.  "  There's  so  much,  you 
know,  to  telL  Well,  let  us  see.  Yes.  We  be- 
gan in  Milford.  N.  EL.  where  we  were  born  and 
where  we  lived." 

[  i  his  old  house,  in  which  14  children  of  the 
Hutchinson  family  were  born,  still  stands  on 
the  farm  originally  owned  by  Mr.  Hutchinson's 
grandfather,  Elisha  Hutchinson.  and  afterward 
given  to  his  two  sons,  Andrew  and  Jesse.  The 
house  is  of  the  ordinary  2Va-story  gable  New 
England  farmhouse  type.  This  inscription  is 
written  by  Mrs.  Abby  H.  Patten  on  the  bacK  of 
the  photograph  of  the  house  in  Mr.  Hutchin- 
son's possession.  Elisha  was  born  Dec.  6, 1751. 
and  came  to  Amherst  (N.  H.)  in  1779.  He  re- 
tained the  Hutchinson  arms,  of  which  the  crest 
is  given  above.] 

"And  then  he  went  on  in  deligntful  rambling 
fashion  to  tell  how  they  were  all  of  the  'Tribe 
of  Jesse'— sixteen  children  altogether,  of  whom 
twelve  were  boys,  and  thirteen  lived  to  grow  up. 

Judsoo  the  oldest,  and  John  and  Asa  and 
Abby,  were  the  original  Hutchinsons.  Brother 
Josnua  had  been  a  teacher  for  more  than  40 
years  in  New  Hampshire,  and  led  the  little  Bap- 
tist choir  in  the  home  village.  The  entire  fam- 
ily had  a  taste  for  music,  but  the  quartette  first 
named  started  to  make  it-  their  calling,  and  be- 
gan giving  concerts  in  Milford  in  1841. 

Brother  Jesse  was  in  Lynn  selling  the  ffrst 
air-tight  stoves  from  which  he  earned  his  sobri- 
quet of  "  Air-turht  Hutchinson. "  He  was  a  bar- 
itpne  singer,  but  so  was  Asa,  and  so  he  devoted 
himself  to  writing  the  songs  for  his  brothers  and 
sisters  to  sing. 

Mr.  Hutchinson  gave  a  most  interesting 
account  of  how  they  started  out  in  Lynn,  Mid 
how  the  first  week's  singing  netted  the  four  but 
12Va  cents. 

They  found  they  needed  more  culture,  and  so 
spent  months  of  rehearsal  in  brother  Andrew's 
hall,  at  the  corner  of  Pearl  and  Purchase 
streets,  in  Boston.  Andrew  was  a  grocer,  and 
was  instrumental  in  starting  a  Universalist  so- 
ciety in  his  hall.  They  would  not  join  the 
Handel  and  Haydn  Society,  finding  themselves 
overbalanced  by  too  heavy  sound. 

Mr.  Hutchinson  committed  Henry  Russell's 
"Maniac  "to  memory,  and  "lused  to  give  it 
with  a  good  deal  of  power,  too,"  said  he.  They 
also  learned  pieces  from  the  .SSolian  Lyre,  and 
finally  went  back  to  Lynn  and  gave  their  first 
concert  in  old  Sagamore  Hall,  where  Fabens 
Block  now  stands. 

So  he  continued,  telling  of  their  funny  trips 
in  their  wagon  from  town  to  town,  and  brother 
Judson's  arousing  the  musical  sentiment  of 
Kennebunk  with  a  huge  dinner  beil  when  the 
family's  bills  had  not  been  posted,  as  had  been 
expected.  Mr.  Hutchinson  has  the  queer  little 
box  melod^on,  less  than  three  feet  long,  which 
accompanied  them  on  all  their  trips.  It  was 
made  by  Prince  of  Buffalo,  60  years  ago. 

So  they  went  all  over  the  country,  and  were 
on  the  point  of  selling  their  outfit,  being  strand- 
ed in  Albany,  when  a  gentleman  came  to  them 
and  begged  to  know  if  they  would  sing  in  his 
church  for  $100.  "  Well,  we  looked  at  each 
other,"  said  the  old  gentleman,  "and  we  finally 


100 


STORIES    OF    OUR    SOLDIERS. 


said  we  would.     We  actually  received  $30  over 
hat  amount." 


He  recalled  a  big  man  named  Richardson,  who 
weighed  300  pounds,  and  who  came  down  upon 
them  with  great  force  for  dariug  to  put  their 
tickets  at  50  cents  each,  as  the  Handel  and 
Haydn  did.  "  'Corporeal '  Richardson,  he  was 
called,"  said  the  old  gentleman. 

Abby  was  called  home  because  mother  could 
not  bear  to  be  cut  off  from  her  sixteenth  child 
for  so  long  a  time  just  as  they  were  going  to  the 
South,  to  New  Orleans,  and  Judsou  had  left 
them  with  a  note  that  he  was  going  to  Texas. 
The  others  came  to  Boston,  and  here  they  heard 
that  there  was  a  runaway  slave  here.  Jesse 
formed  a  company  to  try  to  save  him. 

They  followed  Jesse  till  they  came  to  Man- 
boro'  Chapel,  back  of  the  Marlboro'  House. 

"  We  marched  up  the  aisle,  singinar  as  we 
went."  said  Mr.  Hutchinson.  "You  may  im- 
agine my  feelings.  There  we  bad  just  come 
from  singing  in  popular  concerts,  and  here  we 
were  singing  in  an  anti-slavery  meeting. 

"But  I  felt  aa  we  all  did  that  we  must  save 
that  man.  and  it  soon  got  abroad  that  we  did 
•Ing  for  freedom. 

"That  slave  was  George  Lattimer.  and  the 
money  was  raised  with  our  help  and  his  liberty 
paid  for  and  given  to  him. 

"Do you  know."  said  Mr.  Hutchinson.  'that 
on  the  day  of  the  Whittier  memorial  in  Haver 
bill,  the  fact  of  this  appeal  in  behalf  of  the 
slave  was  published  in  a  Haverhill  paper,  and 
that  very  morning,  after  fifty  years.  I  met 
George  Lattimer  himself,  and  we  had  a  very 
pleasant  meeting  together,  I  assure  you.  going 
over  that  anti-slavery  gathering  In  Marlboro* 
Chapel.  He  remembered  it  Oh.  yes. 

"I  told  that  story  to  Whittier,  and  he  responded 
with  his  poem.  '  Massachusetts  to  Virginia. ' 


"Then  we  sang  in  England  in  1845  for  eleven 
months,  singing  "The  Slave's  Appeal."  with 
great  effect. 

"  Oh  yes,  indeed,  they  gave  us  trouble.  We've 
stood,  five  to  ten  minutes  at  a  time,  to  let  our 
opponents  get  tired  of  hissing.  That  was  in 
New  York,  and  after  they  got  through  we  would 
start  up : 

"  Ho,  the  car  emancipation 
Hides  majestic  through  our  nation. 
Bearing  in  its  train  the  story. 
Liberty  our  nation's  glory. 
Roll  it  along!     Roll  it  along  I 
Through  our  nation— 
Freedom's  car  emancipation." 

"At  Philadelphia  the  Mayor  of  the  city  issued 
a  notice  to  the  lessee  of  the  hall  in  which  we 
sang  that,  unless  trie  police  were  allowed  to  do- 
tain  the  black  man.  who  sat  on  the  platform 
with  us.  at  the  door,  he  would  not  be  responsi- 
ble for  the  perpetuity  orsaiety  of  the  hall.  We 
left  Philadelphia  and  came  oack  to  our  free 
•woods  in  New  Hampshire,  holding  our  good 
name  more  precious  than  silver  and  jrold,  though 
we  lost  thousands  of  dollars. 


"That  black  man  was  Robert  Purvis,    one    of 
the  noblest  men  in  America." 
"  Was  he  a  slave?  " 
"No,  never!" 

''You  sang  'Eiu  Feste  Burg  ist  Unser  Gott,* 
did  you  not,  Mr.  Hutchinson?T' 

"  Ah,  yei  indeed,  we  did,"  the  old  gentleman 
replied  with  kindling  eye.  "You  are  familiar 
with  it?  Then  you  remember  this,"  and  he 
sang  those  stirring  lines  of  Whittier's : 

"  What  gives  the  wheat  fields  blades  of  steel? 

What  points  the  rebel  cannon? 
Wliat  sets  the  warring  rebel  heel 

On  the  old  Star-spangled  pennon? 
What  breaks  the  oath  of  the  men  of  the  South, 

What  whet*  the  knife  for  the  Union's  life? 
Hark  to  the  answer '    slavery. " 

"That  was  the  furnace  blast  that  we  gave 
them  on  the  Potomac.  The  original  Tribe  of 
Jesse  had  been  dispersed— Judson.  with  his  two 
daughters,  had  gone  off  in  one  direction,  and 
Asa,  with  his  wife  and  children,  in  another, 
and  my  Tribe  of  John— myself,  my  daughter 
Viola  and  my  son  Henry— had  started  singing  on 
our  own  account 


•  We  had  been  giving  many  concerts  in  aid  of 
the  soldiers  and  their  families,  and  we  thought 
we  would  like  to  meet  the  soldier  in  the  army 
and  see  what  camp  life  was  like.  So  we  visited 
trie  Capitol  and  secured  through  Salmon  P. 
Chase.  Secretary  of  the  Treasury,  a  pass  to  visit 
the  Grand  Division  of  30,000  men  then  en- 
camped along  the  Potomac.  This  pass  was 
good  for  fifteen  days,  and  was  issued  by  the  Sec- 
retary of  War." 

"The  elder  Cameron?" 

"Yes.  I  think  that  was  about  his  last  official 
act,  for  he  was'  out  next  day  and  Stanton  suc- 
ceeded him." 

"  Well,  we  obtained  the  use  of  a  good,  large 
church  on  the  Fairfax  Seminary  grounds  and 
were  giving  two  concerts  a  day,  and  we  had 
upward  of  2000  soldiers  present  at  a  time. 

"  It  was  quite  a  good  church  belonging  to  the 
seminary,  but  I  don't  remember  the  denomina- 
tion—Presbyterian possibly. 

"  Well,  on  this  particular  occasion  the  house 
was  packed  witn  soldiers.  We  started  witb 
'Cannon  Balls  May  Aid  tue  Truth.'  ana  every- 
thing went  well,  until  finally  we  canie  to  tnat 
srreat  hymn  of  John  G.  WnUtier's.  'Tne  Fur- 
nace Blast."  which  had  been  adapted  to  music. 

"I. sang  the  verses  straight  through  till  1 
came  to  the  one  which  I've  just  recited  to  you, 

"  I  sang  with  strong  feeling,  for  my  whole 
soul  was  wrapt  in  the  grand  sentiment  of  the 
hymn. 

"  I  will  never  forget  that  crowded  church ; 
that  great  throng  of  listening  men,  and  the  in- 
tense stillness  that  pervaded  the  entire  house 
as  my  last  lines  rang  out 

"  WTiat  whets  the  knife  for  the  Union's  liter* 

Hark  to  the  answer !    • '  Slavery !" 

"No  sooner  had  that  last  word  been  sung  with 

the  most  empha'.ic  enunciation  of  which  I   was 

capable,  than  from  one  corner  of  the  room  came 

a  solitary   hiss— so   exactly   like  the  siuillant 


JOHN    W.    HUTCHINSON. 


101 


serpent  In  the  yet  unbroken  hash  as  to  startle 
everybody. 

"  Major  Hatfield,  who  was  the  officer  in  com- 
mand of  the  regiment  to  which  most  of  tne 
soldiers  in  the  pews  belonged,  sprang  upon  one 
of  the  front  benches,  and  in  a  voice  stern  with 
suppressed  indignation,  turned  toward  the 
place  from  whence  came  that  hiss,  shouted  that 
if  tne  interruption  was  repeated  the  person 
who  caused  it  should  go  out  of  the  house. 

*'  Back  came  the  rejoinder  from  the  man  who 
hissed— 'you  had  better  come  and  put  me  out,' 

"  The  Major  recognized  his  man,  and  knew 
also  that  before  he  ha<<  come  in  he  had  threat- 
ened to  do  just  what  he  had  done. 

" '  I  can  put  you  out.'  retorted  Hatfield.  and 
if  1  cannot  I  have  a  regiment  of  men  that  will 
doit.' 

"  At  that  every  man  in  the  house  sprang  to  his 
feet,  and  matters  looked  squally  tor  a  time. 
There  was  great  confusion  and  shouts  of  '  put 
him  oat ' 

"iJut  happily  no  force  was  used  on  the  fellow, 
who  cowered  before  the  immense  throng  that 
surrounded  him. 

"  We  quietly  sang  that  beautiful  song.  No 
Tear  in  HeavenAand  by  degrees  order  was  fully 
restored,  the  soldiers  respectfully  hushing  their 
tumult  that  we  might  go  on. 

"  Chaplain  Merwln.  who  had  obtained  for  us 
the  Seminary  Church,  also  exerted  himself  to 
restore  order. 

"  After  the  concert  certain  persons  who  were 
present  refused  to  mess  with  the  Chaplain  be- 
cause of  what  he  did  for  us.  Major  Hatliold 
was  afterward  killed  before  Richmond  in  Me 
Clellan's  campaign. 

"Well,  a  message  came  to  Chaplain  Merwin 
to  appear  i>e  fore  General  Kearny 

"What.  Phil  Kearny? 

''The  same.  He  was  afterward  killed  in 
battle. 

"  The  General  demanded  all  tne  details  of  the 
Concert  and  disturbance,  and  called  for  the 
singers  to  be  brought  before  him  with  all  their 
toon 

"  There  was  very  erreat  excitement,  and  the 
Trustees  took  the  keys  of  the  church. 

"i'he  Chaplain  was  very  mucii  troubled  about 
it  on  our  account.  Well,  the  message  came  for 
us  to  wait  on  the  General,  and  so  through  the 
rain  and  mud  we  all  tramped  to  his  head- 
quarters. 

"General  Kearny  reproved  Chaplain  and 
vocalists  for  singing  within  his  lines  without 
first  submitting  their  programme  and  songs  to 
him.  and  added  that  he  could  not  allow  the 
concerts  to  go  on. 

"I  said  to  him,  General,  1  have  a  permit 
from  the  Secretary  of  War  allowing  me  to  sing, 
lam  no  stranger  to  the  soldiers' (for  a  good 
many  thousands  of  men  knew  of  and  had 
beard  us).  '  whatever  the  officers  may  think  and 
feel  on  the  subject.' 

"To  this  the  General  replied  quickly,  *1 
reign  supreme  here.  You  are  abolitionists.  I 
think  as  much  of  a  rebel  as  1  do  of  an  aoolition- 
tefc' 

"  We  left  the  General's  quarters  rather  doubt- 


ful whether  the  concerts  were  to  be  allowed  to 
continue  or  not,  but  soon  after  reaching  oar 
quarters  there  came  a  fresh  message  irom  toe 
General  that  we  must  forego  all  further  singing 
in  the  camps. 

".Not  satisfied  with  this,  the  news  was  sent  to 
General  Franklin,  and  this  order  came  back: 

•• '  HEADUI;  AKTKits  ALEXANDRIA 

DIVISION  CAMP.  January,  1862. 
"'Major  BatfieM; 

"'Von  will  please  send  to  Uiese  headquarters  as  soon  as 
possible,  a  copy  of  the   songs  sung    by    the   Hutchinson 
Family  last  night  in  the  Seminary  Chapel. 
"  •  By  order  of  brigadiei  General  Franklin. 

•••JOSEPH  C.  JACKSON,  &..  it,  C.' 

'After  some  hours  of  hanl  work  copies  were 
taken  and  forwarded  to  General  Franklin  by 
the  Chaplain. 

"The  General  took  them  and  asked  to  have 
the  objectionable  song  pointed  out  to  him.  He 
was  referred  to  Whittier's  '  Furnace  Blast.' 

"'  Why,'  said  he,  '1  pronounce  that  incend- 
iary,'and  then  added  'if  these  people  are  al- 
loweltogoou  they  will  demoralize  the  whole 
army.' 

"  The  Chaplain  again  retired  very  sad  and  de- 
pressed. Another  concert  had  been  advertised, 
and  on  announcing  thai,  it  was  forbidden  the 
memuers  of  the  regiment  who  were  to  have 
atteii'le  i  it  expressed  their  regret. 

"Late  on  Saturday  night(a  concert  having  been 
given  the  previous  Friday  evening)  this  mes- 
sage was  sent  to  Gen.  Franklin,  purporting  to 
have  emanated  from  Gen.  McClellau.  com- 
manding the  army : 

•"  HlADViUAKTKRS   ALEXANDRIA.* 

YlKGlNlA.  Jane  18. 1862.     f 
•••General  Orders  No. 3. 

••'  By  command  of  the  Major  (Jeneral  Commanding,  IT. 
8.  A.,  the  permit  given  to  the  IJiilchinson  Family  to  sing 
in  the  camps  and  their  pass  to  cross  the  I'oiomac,  ara 
hereby  revoked,  and  they  will  not  be  allowed  to  sing  to 
the  troops. 
"  •  By  order  of  Brig.  General  Franklin. 

•'•J.  C.  JACKSON,  A.  !>.  O. 
•••rofflcial.) 

•••JAMBS  Bl.  WILSON,  A.  A.  (i. 
•  •  Headquarters.  First  New  Jersey  Vola.' 

'This,  of  course,  was  an  effectual  stopper  to 
further  proceedings. 

"At  the  same  time  1  received  a  verbal  message 
that  myself  and  vocalists  must  leave  oar  quar- 
ters. 

"The  hour  beinur  late  and  weather  bad,  Mr. 
Hutchinson  obtained  from  General  Franklin 
the  privilege  of  remaining  with  his  friends 
until  the  Monday  morning  following;  the 
answer  coining  back,  '  There  is  no  objection  to 
these  people  remaining,  if  they  uehave  them- 
selves properly.' 

"The  next  day  being  Sunday.  Chaplain  Yard 
obtained  permission  to  use  tho  church,  and  a 
little  plan  was  adopted  in  order  that  the  hun- 
dreds of  soldiers  who  desired  to  hear  the 
Huichinsons  sing  should  not  be  disappointed. 

"  The  Chaplain  asked  leave  to  have  a  choir, 
and  at  service  time  the  Hulchiuson  family 
offered  themselves  as  that  choir. 

"The  Chaplain  preached  in  the  morning.and  in 
the  evenLuz  Mr.  Merwin  cave  a  temperance  lee- 


102 


STORIES   OF   OUR   SOLDIERS. 


ture.  'We  sang  on  both  of  these  occasions. 
Mid  Mr.  Hutchinson,  and  on  the  following 
Monday  morning  daughter  Viola  received  a  $20 
gold  niece  sent  her  by  the  soldiers.  1  sent  a 
part  of  my  company  to  Washington,  intending 
to  follow  with  my  daughter,  bat  I  was  pre- 
vails 1  uoon  by  the  Chaplain  to  remain  over 
night,  as  he  said  he  would  take  me  to  visit 
Farnsworth's  regiment  of  cavalry  the  next 
morning. 

"They  had  a  slight  runaway  accident,  their 
carriage  being  broken  against  a  tree,  and  on 
their  return  to  quarters  were  informed  that  an 
officer  had  called  in  their  absence  to  see  if  they 
bad  gone,  and  intimated  that  'it  was  just  as 
well  for  them  that  they  had  gone  off.' 

"Anxious  to  give  the  authorities  no  grounds 
for  charging  him  with  disobedience  of  orders. 
Mr.  Hutchinson  departed  at  once,  calling  on 
Gen.  Montgomery  at  Alexandria,  where  they 
sunvr  their  songs  and  hymns  at  the  General's 
own  headquarters,  and  conjointly  with  the  Pro 
vost  Marshal,  Gen.  Montgomery  arranged  for  a 
concert,  which  was  given  by  the  Hutchiusons. 

" 'On  reaching  Washington,' said  Mr.  Iluicn 
inson.  'I  called  immediately  on  Mr.  Secretary 
Chase  and  told  him  the  whole  story  of  our 
trouble  at  Fairfax  Church.' 


"At  his  request  I  gave  him  a  copy  of  the  pro- 
hibited sonsr.  which  he  submitted  to  the  Cabi- 
net. Of  course  the  details  of  the  sessions  of  that 
bo  ly  are  noc  public,  but  I  was  informed  on  the 
best  of  authority  that  I  was  exonerated  from  all 
blame  and  that  the  President  expressed  him 
self  very  strongly  in  my  favor. 

"  President  Lincoln  remarked  that  they  were 
•just  the  SOUKS  he  wanted  his  people  to  hear. ' 


In  this  as  in  all  other  instances  Mr.  Chase  acted 
with  the  utmost  kindness  toward  us. 

"I  no  longer  hesitated  to  go  to  Alexandria 
and  gave  two  concerts  there,  singing  the  pro- 
hibited as  well  as  all  the  other  radical  songs. 
which  were  loudly  called  for— 'John  Brown's 
Body '  among  the  rest. 

"The  General  himself  sat  on  the  platform. 
We  returned  to  Washington  at  the  special  re- 
quest of  some  officers  of  Gen.  McClellan's  bo  ly 
guard,  an 'I  these  gentlemen  compensated  us  by 
selling  large  numbers  of  tickets  for  this  concert, 
which  was  given  in  a  church  and  at  which  the 
Provost  Marshal  was  present.  The  radical 
songs  were  received  with  great  applause,  but 
the  minister  of  the  church,  however,  was  so 
frightened  lest  his  congregation  be  dispersed  by 
the  anti-slavery  character  of  those  songs  that  he 
would  not  let  us  have  the  church  for  another 
concert.  We  created  a  great  sensation  by  our 
"  Slave's  Appeal.'  " 

The  old  gentleman  recalled  with  pleasure 
kindnesses  shown  him  by  Gen.  J.  C.  Fremont 
and  Jessie  Fremont  The  colored  people  also 
opened  their  churche*  when  the  doors  of  others 
were  shut  against  them. 

The  Tribe  of  John  sang  in  Philadelphia  and 
the  West,  and  at  Hutchinson,  Minn.,  a  town 
founded  by  the  family.  The  old  gentleman  ut- 
tered what  proved  to  be  a  piophetic  warning 
against  the  comine  of  the  Indians,  The  latter 
did  come ;  300  people  were  obliged  to  flee  for 
their  lives  a  distance  of  17  miles  for  refuge. 
and  every  house  in  the  town  was  burned  but 
two 

To-day  Brother  John  is  enjoying  the  gloaming 
of  life  with  his  remaining  son.  still  singing, 
whenever  his  services  are  desired,  the  songs  of 
olden  time. 


THE   HUTCHINSON    CREST. 


ORIGINAL    SINGERS. 


103 


AT  FIRST  BULL  RUN. 


[Capt  U.  A.  Woodbury  of  Burlington.  Vt..  at 
the  request  of  the  Journal  furnished  a  very 
graphic  and  thrilling  story  of  his  personal  ex- 
periences at  the  first  battle  of  Bull  Run.  where 
ho  lost  his  right  arm  (being:  the  first  emptv 
sleeve  from  Vermont)  and  was  captured  by  the 
Confederates  and  subsequently  confined  in  a 
rebel  prison.  Capt.  Wood  bury  is  a.  native  of  El- 
more.  Vt.  .  and  enlistedMay  26. 1861 .  He  was  mus 
tered  in  as  Sergeant  of  Co.  H.  Second  Vermont. 
uno  20.  taken  prisoner  at  Manassas,  July  21. 
and  paroled  Oct.  6.  He  was  discharged  on  ac- 
count of  wounds  received  Oct.  16.  He  subse 
auently  re  enlisted  as  a  private  in  Company  D, 
Eleventh  Vermont,  ana  was  commissioned 
Captain  Nov  16,  1862.  Capt  Woodbury  served 
in  the  Veteran  Reserve  Corps  until  March,  1866 
He  was  Chief  of  Staff  to  Gov  Barslow  In  '84. 
Mayor  of  Burlington  in  1884-5-6,  Lieutenant 
Governor  oi  Vermont  from  1888  to  1890.  and 
was  the  last  President  of  the  Vermont  Omcers' 
Reunion  Society  1 

I  was  First  Sergeant  ot  Company  E,  Second 
Regiment.  Vermont  Volunteers.  The  regiment 
rendezvoused  in  Burlington  the  first  part  of 
June,  1801.  being  the  first  three-year  troops 
sent  from  Vermont.  The  members  of  it  came 
largely  from  rural  communities — there  are  but 
few  other  than  rural  in  our  State — and  they 
were  as  hardy  a  set  of  boys  as  ever  assembled  in 
a  camp 

In  those  days  "rasling'  was  the  universal 
sport  at  every  village  and  neighborhood  gath- 
ering, and  the  regiment  contained  hundreds  of 
athletes  that  would  have  been  eagerly  sought 
for  by  football  enthusiasts,  had  that  game  been 
"on"  in  those  days.  They  could  outmarcb. 
outrun,  outjump  and  "outrassle"  all  compet- 
itors. They  were  full  of  good  humor,  slow  to 
wrath,  bat  they  nad  enlisted  for  a  purpose, 
clearly  defined  in  their  minds,  and  no  danger 
or  deprivation  moved  them  from  it  They  were 


naturally.      mentally     as    well    as    physically 
strong. 

We  were  mustered  into  the  United  States  ser- 
vice June  20  by  Lieutenant  Colonel  Rains.  U. 
S.  A.,  who  shortly  after  resigned,  went  into  the 
Confederate  Army  and  was  killed. 

We  left  Burlington  June  24.  and  arrived  in 
Washington  the  26th.  Went  into  Virginia  the 
10th  of  July  and  camped  ac  Brook  Hill,  a  few 
miles  from  Alexandria.  There  we  were  bri 
gaded  with  the  Third.  Fourth  and  Fifth  Maine, 
and  placed  under  the  command  of  Brigadier 
General  O  O  Howard,  who  afterward  distin 
guished  himself  in  various  commands,  and  is 
now  the  ranking  Major  General  in  the  United 
States  Army  next  to  General  Schofield.  Henry 
Whiting  was  our  Colonel.  Geo  J.  Stannard— 
afterward  Brevet  Major  General.  U.  S.  V . 
who  distinguished  himself  at  Gettysburg  while 
in  command  of  the  Second  Vermont  Brigade— 
was  our  Lieutenant  Colonel.  C.  H.  Joyce,  after- 
ward M.  C.  from  Vermont,  was  our  Major. 
W.  W  Henry— afterward  Brigadier  General, 
and  the  gallant  Commander  of  the  Tentn  Ver- 
mont, which  distinguished  itself  at  the  battle  of 
Monocacy— was  a  Lieutenant. 

And  I  now  recall  such  persons  as  Colonels 
Tracey.  Walbridge.  Stone.  Tyler.  Johnson  and 
Major  DillinKham  and  many  others,  heroes 
every  one.  who  distinguisned  tnemselves  on 
many  a  bloody  field. 

The  Captain  of  our  company  was  an  old 
militia  officer  of  fine  physique,  and  we  thought 
we  had  a  prize.  But  we  soon  found  that  he  did 
not  know  enough  to  lead  the  company  to  mess, 
and  he  never  learned. 

At  Centreville  our  boys  made  it  lively  .for  the 
honey,  and  the  bees  made  it  lively  for  the  boys 


106 


STORIES  OF   OUR   SOLDIERS. 


The  pilferers  often  got  badly  stung,  bat  the 
simple  partakers  of  the  sweet  luxury  feastea 
with  delight  and  safety  While  we  were  living 
at  Cemreville  a  portion  of  the  Union  forces  had 
a  brisk  little  skirmish  with  the  rebs  at  Black 
burn's  Pord 

I  witnessed  some  of  the  affair,  ami  then  first 
saw  an  armed  rebel  and  saw  the  first  shotted 
gun  fired.  I  began  to  think  there  was  work 
ahead  for  us.  The  evening  of  the  20th  brought 
us  knowledge  that  a  battle  might  be  expected 
on  the  morrow.  Gen.  Howard  had  the  brigade 
paraded  and  delivered  us  a  patriotic  address. 

Before  daybreak  July  21  we  were  astir,  and 
after  breakfast  were  put  in  marching  order. 
Soon  long  lines  of  infantry,  some  batteries  of 
artillery  and  some  cavalry  filed  past  us  to 
take  the  positions  assigned  them  by  orders.  It 
was  a  beautiful  sight  to  see  the  long  line  of 
soldiers  with  their  bright  bayoneted  guns  glis- 
tening in  the  sunlight  as  they  matched  over  the 
hill  and  into  the  depression  beyond,  the  hamlet 
of  Centreville.  What  a  contrast  between  the 
confident,  brave  army  at  that  hour  and  the  dis- 
mayed, defeated  and  disorganized  force  that 
fled  back  over  the  same  route  a  few  hours  later. 

The  army  was  accompanied  by  a  horde  of  civil- 
ians, among  whom  were  many  members  of  Con- 
gress who  had  joined  the  army  so  as  to  "do  up  " 
the  rebels  and  end  the  war.  Some  of  these  gentle- 
men accompanied  us  to  Richmond.  1  remem- 
ber that  Congressman  Ely  of  the  Rochester.  N. 
Y.,  District  was  in  Libby  when  1  was  in  the  ad- 
joining building.  Their  capture  created  some 
merriment  to  others  besides  themselves,  and 
many  jokes  were  cracked  at  their  expense. 

We  were  fully  equipped.  We  nad  dress  coats, 
knapsacks  filled  to  repletion,  haversacks 
almost  bursting,  40  rounds  of  cartridges,  can- 
teens, etc.,  and  smooth  bore  Springfield  mus- 
kets. We  had  them  all  on,  too.  We  soon 
fell  into  the  line  of  march  and  passed  along 
toward  the  right  flank  of  our  army,  and  were 
halted  about  three  miles  from  Sudley  Church, 
near  a  blacksmith  shop. 

Here  we  remained  several  hours,  greatly  in- 
terested in  the  battle,  which  we  could  plainly 
hear,  but  could  not  see.  When  some  louder 
discharge  than  usual  was  heard.  Lieut.  C.  of 
my  corn  nan y  would  exclaim,  much  to  our  satis- 
faction, "Another  rebel  battery  taken."  He 
really  thought  so.  He  went  down  to  Virginia 
to  whip  the  rebels,  and  he  had  no  idea  but  what 
it  was  being  done  as  arranged. 

Our  Captain,  having  tilled  up  to  his  usual 
limit— when  we  were  ordered  to  advance  at  the 
double  quick  at  about  3  P.  M.— said:  "I'll  be 

d d  if  I  came  down  here  to  make  a  race  horse 

of  myself.  Lieutenant  C.  you  may  take  charge 
the  company."  He  went  to  the  rear  and  I  never 
saw  him  afterward.  Just  imagine  men  double 
quicking  under  a  burning  July  sun  in  Virginia 
—accoutred  as  we  were. 

We  thought  we  musfc  not  part  with  our  knap- 
sacks, but  it  soon  became  apparent  that  we 
•mould  drop  in  our  tracks  if  we  were  not  re- 


lieved, and  then  we  oegan  to  throw  them  off, 
and  soon  the  line  of  march  was  covered  with 
them.  But,  oh,  wasn't  it  hot.  Soon  our  thirst 
became  almost  unbearable.  At  Sudley  Spring 
some  of  us  filled  our  canteens  with  water  and 
slaked  our  thirst,  but  we  were  needed  at  the 
front  and  we  were  hurried  forward.  Everyone 
seemed  anxious  to  do  his  duty  and  but  few 
straggled,  unless  absolutely  unable  to  go  on  on 
account  of  exhaustion. 

As  we  passed  Sudley  Church  we  saw  the  first 
evidence  of  the  battle.  Ambulances  were 
bringing  the  wounded  to  the  church,  where  a 
hospital  had  been  established.  We  saw  the 
wounded  being  taken  from  the  ambulances  and 
tnen  realized  more  than  ever  before  the  perils 
that  awaiied  us 

As  we  came  nearer  the  field  we  saw  the  Sec- 
ond Rhode  Island  Regiment  resting  beside  the 
road,  with  arms  stacked.  Some  of  their  bovs 
called  to  us  as  we  paise  1  them.  "  We  have  been 
in  and  had  a  hack  at  the  Rebs  and  now  it  is 
your  turn."  At  that  place  we  left  the  road, 
which  was  bordered  with  irees,  and  emerged 
into  the  open  field.  We  were  soon  discovered 
by  the  enemy,  who  opened  fire  upon  us  with 
solid  shot  and.  as  we  advanced  farther,  with 
shell  and  musketry.  I  did  not  see  a  man  of  our 
regiment  leave  the  ranks,  though  there  was 
some  ducking  of  heads  when  a  shot  or  shell 
came  unusually  near. 


We  were  the  extreme  right  of  our  army.  We 
went  on  to  the  field  by  the  right  flank,  march- 
ing at  quick  time,  but  as  we  came  under  a  hot- 
ter fire  our  pace  was  quickened  to  the  double 
quick.  We  soon  began  to  descend  the  hill  to 
the  Warrenton  pike,  beyond  which  the  enemy 
who  were  firing  upon  us  were  situated. 

Heavy  firing  was  heard  soon  at  the  Henry 
house — to  our  left  and  front.  A  portion  at 
least  of  the  Fourteenth  Brooklyn  was  retiring 
to  our  left,  and  Ricketts's  Battery  was  flying  to 
the  rear  upon  our  right.  The  idea  of  retreat 
or  defeat  had  not  entered  our  min  is  at  that 
time.  We  thought,  I  did,  at  least,  that  the  re- 
tiring battery  and  troops  were  going  back  after 
more  ammunition  or  to  make  room  for  fresh 
troops. 

While  marching  at  double  quick  down  the 
slope  at  trail  arms,  at  the  head  of  my  company, 
which  was  next  to  the  color  guard.  I  was  hit  in 
the  right  arm,  near  tbe  shoulder,  by  a  piece  of  a 
shell,  which  passed  across  my  breast  and 
whirled  around  and  fell  to  the  ground.  In  the 
twinkling  of  an  eye  I  was  transformed  from  an 
athlete  to  a  pensioner.  Another  piece  from  the 
same  shell  killed  my  file  leader.  Corporal  Ben- 
jamin of  Company  C  of  Brattleboro  .  His  life 
was  the  first  laid  upon  the  altar  of  his  country 
in  battle  by  a  Vermonter.  I  was  carrie_d  to  the 
rear  by  two  comrades  after  my  bleeding  was 
partly  stopped,  placed  in  an  ambulance,  carried 
to  a  little  old  cooper's  shop  near  the  Sudley 
Church,  placed  upon  a  board  upon  the  ground, 
and  my  arm,  which  was  completely  shattered 
and  hanging  together  only  by  ihe  skin  and  mus- 
cles, was  amputated  bv  Surgeon  Ballou  of  my 


AT    FIRST    BULL    RUN. 


109 


regiment.  1  remember  of  seeing;  him  standing1 
over  me  as  I  was  being  etherized,  and  I  did  not 
see  him  afterward  for  25  years,  almost  to  a  day, 
when  I  met  him  at  the  Van  Ness  House. 

The  regiment  continued  on  and  soon  became 
closely  engaged  with  the  enemy.  They  fought 
gallantly  and  only  retired  when  peremptorily 
ordered  to  do  so.  They  retreated  in  good  order 
and  formed  a  part  of  the  rear  guard,  such  as 
there  was.  Ttie  service  of  the  regiment  there- 
after, as  a  part  of  the  famous  First  Vermont 
Brigade,  was  brilliant  and  unexcelled  by  auy 
other  organization  in  the  Union  Army. 

Soon  after  1  recovered  my  consciousness  I 
heard  the  cry;  "The  Black  Horse  Cavalry  is 
coming."  and  soon  a  Major  of  rebel  cavalry 
came  into  the  shop  and  sternly  informed  us 
that  we  were  prisoners. 

I  had  started  out  in  the  morning  confident  of 
victory  and  that  the  war  would  be  ended  and 
the  Union  preserved,  and  now  tne  conscious- 
ness that  our  forces  were  routed  and  tlying  to 
the  rear,  and  that  I  was  a  prisoner  and  maimed 
for  life  put  me  in  an  unhappy  state  of  mind 
from  which  I  did  not  entirely  iecover  until  1 
left  Dixie. 

My  arm  was  laid  tu>on  a  low  bencn  beside 
me.  in  my  full  view  It  was  pale  and  useless 
then,  and  i  told  one  of  the  boys  the  next  morn 
ing  to  take  it  out  and  bury  it.  The  shop  was 
filled  with  our  wounded,  and  it  was  interesting 
to  note  the  effects  of  wounds  upon  different  indi- 
viduals. I  recollect  a  Zouave  who  was  shot 
with  a  musket  ball  when  his  mouth  was  wide 
open— presumably  when  shouting.  The  ball 
did  not  hit  his  teeth  or  any  part  of  his  mouth. 
It  first  struck  the  posterior  pharynx  and  passed 
through  his  neck  and  out  by  the  sid«  "f  bis 
spinal  column  in  the  rear. 

He  could  not  he  down,  but  slept  some  sitting. 
He  was  very  light-hearted  and  made  a  rapid 
recovery.  By  my  side  lay  an  apparently  strong 
young  man  who  had  a  simple  flesh  wound  in 
one  of  his  forearms.  He  was  homesick  and 
despondent,  and  inflammation  set  in.  with  ac- 
companying fever,  and  he  died  in  a  few  days. 
The  weather  was  hot  and  moist,  and  wounds 
did  not  do  welL  It  was  before  the  days  of 
antiseptic  surerery,  the  great  boon  of  the  sub- 
jects of  the  surgeon's  knife. 

One  week  from  the  day  of  the  battle  we  were 
taken  to  Manassas  Junction,  bound  for  Rich- 
mond, Va. 

We  passed  through  the  centre  of  the  battle- 
field. Broken  gun  carriages,  caissons,  accoutre- 
ments and  dead  horses,  from  which  a  horriule 
stench  arose,  covered  the  ground  in  all  direc- 
tions. 

We  sat  up  in  an  old  side-seat  omnibus  during 
the  two  hours'  journey,  and  when  we  reached 
the  junction  we  felt  pretty  well  used  up. 

We  were  put  in  an  old  tobacco  shed  for  the 
night  While  there  we  were  visited  by  many 
rebs.  who  taunted  and  threatened  us.  Though 


our  prisoners  were  better  treated  at  tnia  time 
than  later  on,  so  far  as  food  and  care  were  con- 
cerned, tnere  was  a  bitterer  personal  feeling  by 
the  common  rebel  soldier  toward  the  Union 
soldier  than  after  they  got  better  acquainted. 
On  the  morning  of  July  29  we  were  loaded  into 
some  old  freight  cars,  unprovided  witb  even 
•traw  to  lie  uuou.  and  starte  1  for  the  camta!  of 
the  Confederacy.  What  a  terrible  journey  of  30 
hours  and  130  miles  that  was  for  the  badly 
wounded.  Unable  to  ait  UD  we  lay  upon  the 
door  of  the  car  with,  at  the  most,  i>ut  a  blanket 
under  us.  Every  time  the  car  wheels  struck 
the  joints  of  the  rails  our  arms  and  legs  were 
thrown  up  a  few  inches  into  the  air.  to  come 
down  again  at  once  with  a  thud  on  the  floor. 

More  dead  than  alive  we  reached  Richmond. 
I  was  carried  to  the  poor  house,  with  some 
others  of  the  badlv  wounded,  and  was  there 
visited  and  cared  for  by  those  ministering 
angels,  the  Sisters  of  Charity,  who  knew  no 
difference  between  Union  and  rebel.  They 
were  doing  the  work  of  their  Master  who  la 
no  "respecter  of  persons." 

One  of  them  gave  me  a  few  swallows  of  rum 
punch  which  revived  me  much.  I  am  a  tem- 
perate man,  but  I  think  that  if  a  sister  should 
offer  me  a  rum  punch  now  1  should  drink  it.  to 
see  if  it  would  taste  as  good  as  it  did  In  Rich- 
mond over  31  years  ago. 

Captain  James  B.  Ricketts  u.  8  A,,  who  com- 
manded Ricketts's  Battery  in  the  battle  and 
who  lost  a  leg.  was  a  prisoner  in  the  poor  house 
with  us.  His  devoted  wife  had  braved  the 
dangers  incident  to  a  journey  through  the 
linen,  and  was  then  ministering  to  her  husband, 

Ricketts  was  afterward  a  Major  General. 
While  in  this  place  occurred  an  incident  which 
illustrated  the  mean  side  of  human  nature, 
very  rare  indeed  in  a  Union  soldier. 

Among  the  prisoners  in  an  adjoining  room 
to  the  one  I  was  in  was  one  Murphy,  a  member 
of  a  Brooklyn  regiment.  He  had  recovered 
rapidly  from  his  wound  and  wanted  to  make 
his  escape.  We  were  not  securely  guarded  and 
escape  was  feasible.  He  consulted  me  a  out 
the  matter  and  said  he  had  no  money  to  buy 
food,  which  was  necessary.  I  had  $1  left  of 
$2  50  that  I  received  from  the  sale  of  a  watch 
to  a  negro. 

1  gave  him  this,  with  wnich  he  supplied  him- 
self with  tne  necessary  food.  I  also  exchanged 
witb  him  my  only  blanket  for  his  overcoat,  as 
he  could  not  use  the  coat  for  fear  of  discovery 
by  its  color  I  helped  lower  him  out  of  the  win- 
dow to  the  ground  late  at  nignt  and  bid  him 
godspeed  to  freedom.  T  was  soon  transferred  to 
a  tobacco  warehouse  next  to  Libby  Prison,  after 
being  in  the  poor  house 

Soon  after  my  aamiuance  tnere  a  rebel  guard, 
accompanied  by  a  prisoner,  came  on  to  the  floor 
where  I  was  and  asked  for  "  Woodbury." 

When  he  found  me,  the  prisoner,  whom  I 
recognized  at  once  as  Murphy,  who  had  evi- 
dently been  recaptured,  approached  me  and  de- 
manded his  coat.  I  was  indignant,  and  de- 


110 


STORIES    OF    OCR    SOLDIERS. 


murred.  and  finally  resisted,  as  it  was  the  only 
Covering  I  had  and  it  was  precious  to  me.  but  his 
two  hands  were  stronger  than  my  one,  and,  be- 
sides, I  did  not  dare  make  too  much  fuss  over 
the  matter  for  fear  of  exposure  of  my  complicity 
in  his  escape,  and  he  got  the  overcoat. 

At  this  late  day  I  lose  my  composure  when  I 
think  of  Murphy.  1  have  no  expectation  of 
meeting  him  in  this  world  or  wish  of  meeting 
him  in  the  next.  It  is  said  that  the  maimed  are 
made  whole  in  the  next  world,  and  I  therefore 
have  the  right  to  expect  that  my  right  arm  will 
be  restored  to  my  shoulder.  Should  it  be  and  it 
be  as  strong  then  as  it  was  the  morning  of  Julv 
21, 1861.  and  should  I  meet  that  Irishman 
Murphy  I  would  be  tempted  to  thrash  him  until 
he  wished  he  was  in  purgatory. 

I  have  spun  tnis  yarn  out  too  long  already, 
but  will  briefly  say  that  our  prison  life  was  like 
others  which  has  been  so  often  describe* i, 
deprivation,  filth,  hunger  and  ill  treatment  In 
October  the  welcome  news  was  received  that 
those  who  were  so  badly  wounded  they  would 
not  probably  be  fit  for  service  again  would  soon 
be  paroled.  At  lasc  the  happy  day  came  for 
about  80  of  us  and  we  were  formally  paroled. 

We  were  the  first  considerable  numbers  of 
prisoners  paroled  from  Richmond. 

We  went  down  the  James  River  on  a  small 
rebel  steamer  and  were  met  some  20  or  30  miles 
aoove  Fortress  Monroe  by  the  Union  steamsr 
Express. 

What  a  sorry  spectacle  those  80  men  made. 


Men  witn  arms  and  legs  gone,  men  shot  in  the 
head  and  through  the  bodies,  and  clad  in  all 
sorts  of  garments.  I  had  on  my  gray  uniform 
pants— I  have  them  now— a  knit  jacket  and  a 
cap  and  shoes. 

But  we  were  happy ;  as  we  went  upon  the  deck 
of  the  Union  steamer  and  saw  the  old  flag  float- 
ing over  us  and  realized  that  we  were  once 
more  under  its  protecting  folds  cheer  upon 
cheer  broke  from  our  lips,  cans  and  crutches 
were  thrown  into  the  air  and  for  the  moment 
joy  reigned  supreme. 

For  the  moment  we  forgot  that  we  were 
cripples,  and  that  for  the  remainder  of  our 
lives  would  be  deprived  of  a  large  share  oltlie 
physical  enjoyment  that  a  complete  healthy 
frame  brings  to  one ;  we  were  once  more  in  the 
land  of  freedom;  we  had  done  wnat  we  had 
opportunity  to  do  for  the  honor  of  the  flag,  we 
were  soon  to  see  our  comrades  and  our  loved 
ones  at  home. 

"We  were  young  and  looked  on  the  bright  side 
of  life.  We  felt  that  a  grateful  people  would 
appreciate  our  sacrifices  and  we  were  content. 

Coffee  and  food  in  abundance  were  ready  fir 
us  on  the  steamer,  and  we  partook  of  the  first 
square  meal  since  we  left  Centreville  a  few 
months  before.  In  due  time  we  arrived  at 
Fortress  Monroe,  from  which  place  we  went  to- 
Baltimore,  and  there  separated  from  each  other 
to  go  to  various  hospitals,  or  our  homes. 

URBAN  A.  WOODBUEY. 


THE  SHERMAN  EXPEDITION. 


w  or  reminiscences  ?  What  can  I  give  you? 
The  subject  has  been  pretty  well  used  up,  but 
there  was  one  phase  of  the  Rebellion  that  I 
have  not  yet  seen  in  print— the  great  storm 
which  struck  the  Sherman  expedition  in  Octo- 
ber. 1861.  Those  who  were  in  it  an 'I  still  sur- 
vive may  like  to  near  it  described  from  the 
standpoint  of  another,  and  as  thousands  of  those 
who  experienced  that  terrible  blow  were  read- 
ers of  Tno  .Journal,  it  cannot  fail  to  interest 
them  on  account  of  the  memories  revived. 
Like  the  great  majority  of  those  who  en- 
listed in  1861.  I  was  but  a  boy.  younger  even  in 
experience  than  in  years.  1  was  a  member  of 
the  band  of  the  Third  New  Hampshire  Volun- 
teers, a  regiment  assigned  to  the  expedition 
commanded  by  General  T.  W.  Sherman  to 
operate  on  the  coast  of  South  Carolina  in  No- 
vember, 1861.  The  field  officers  were  CoL  Enoch 
Q.  Fellows  of  Sandwich,  later  Commander  of 
the  Ninth  New  Hampshire  Volunteers,  one  of 
the  best  regimental  commanders  sent  out  by 
the  State,  and  a  graduate  of  West  Point;  Lieut. 
Col.  John  H.  Jackson,  afterward  Colonel  of  the 
regiment,  and  for  many  years  an  officer  in  the 
Custom  House.  Boston ;  Maj.  John  Bedell,  bre- 
vetted  a  Brigadier  General,  both  veterans  of  the 
Mexican  War ;  the  Adjutant  was  Alfred  J.  Hill 
of  Portsmouth,  also  a  Mexican  veteran. 


All  but  Colonel  Fellows  are  dead. 

Among  the  line  officers  who  were,  or  are  wei: 
known  in  New  England,  was  Capt  J.  H. 
Plympton,  later  laeutenat  Colonel,  killed 
in  Virginia  in  1864;  Capt  J.  F  Rand- 
lett,  also  Lieutenant  Colonel,  since  the 
war  in  the  regular  service,  at  present 
in  the  Eighth  Cavalry;  Captain  Michael  T. 
Donoboe,  later  Colonel  of  the  i'ench  New  Hamp- 
shire, and  brevetted  a  Brigadier  General ;  Cap- 
tain Ralph  Carleton.  leader  of  the  Farmington 
Band,  a  fine  musician,  killed  on  James  Island 
in  1862;  Adjutant  Alvah  Libbey,  killed  at 
Wagner;  Captain  William  EL  Maxwell  of  Man- 
chester; Captain  Dick  Ela,  killed  in  Virginia  in 
1864:;  Captain  Henry  H.  Ayer  of  Penacook, 
killed  in  Virginia  in  1864;  Lieut  John  H. 
Thompson,  who  died  of  yellow  fever  at  Hilton 
Head  in  1862.  the  father  of  Major  A.  B.  Thomp- 
son, for  many  years  Secretary  of  State,  and 
Captain  Ciiarles  S.  Burnham,  now  of  Waltham. 
Mass. 

Among  the  non-commissioned  oih'cers  who 
won  their  straps  by  honorable  service  and  who 
are  readers  of  The  Journal  are  Major  J.  Homer 
Edgerly  of  Charlestown,  Major  W,  H.  Trickey, 
now  a  Universalist  clergyman,  Capt.  Roger  W. 
Wood  bury  of  Denver,  a  wealthy  banker,  Capt. 
R.  W.  Houghtou  of  the  same  city.  Capt.  C.  A. 
White,  Mayor  of  Greelv,  Col.,  Capt.  Michael  P. 
Donley  of  New  Ipswich,  Capt.  David  Wads- 
worth  of  Manchester.  Adjt,  Elbridge  J.  Copp 
of  Nashua,  Register  of  Probate  for  his  "ounty. 


STORIES   OF    OUR   SOLDIERS. 


who  served  three  years,  was  severely  wounded 
several  times  and  was  not  old  enough  to  vote  on 
his  return :  Capt  Dan  Eldridge  of  the  Co-oper- 
ative Bank  on  Bromfield  street.  Boston,  and 
Capt.  A.  S.  Atherton,  a  well-known  grocer  of 
"Wakefield.  Mass. 

The  other  officers  were  not  perhaps  so  well 
known  outside  of  their  own  localities,  but  all 
were  of  a  character  to  reflect  honor  ou  both  the 
regiment  and  State,  for  it  is  not  too  much  to 
say  that  in  this  respect  it  was  second  to  no  regi- 
ment that  left  New  Hampshire.  We  left  Con- 
cord on  Sept.  3, 1861,  going  to  Hamp«tead,  Long 
Island,  where  it  was  proposed  to  organize  the 
expedition  spoken  of.  Events  in  Washington, 
however,  broke  up  this  arrangement.  The 
Third  was  ordered  to  Washington  on  the  IGth, 
pitching  its  tents  about  a  mile  east  of  the  Capi- 
tol, alongside  of  the  Congressional  Cemetery, 
and  here  occurred  the  incident  which  was  the 
occasion  of  one  of  the  best  stories  of  the  war,  so 
good  that  it  has  been  appropriated  by  scores  of 
regiments  from  as  many  States. 

The  Chaplain  of  the  Third  was  a  Methodist 
clergyman  named  Hill,  a  very  good  man.  He 
was  the  regimental  postmaster,  and  a  man  of  a 
practical  turn  of  mind.  He  desired  to  get  uu  a 
revival  in  the  regiment,  an  old-fashioned  one. 
The  east  branch  of  the  Potomac  was  close  by, 
furnishing  the  material  in  which  to  immerse 
the  converts.  McClellan  had  just  assumed 
command  of  the  army. 

Every  one  desire  i  to  go  to  the  city,  but  it  was 
impossible  lor  any  but  commissioned  officers  to 
secure  a  pass ;  even  they  had  difficulty  in  get- 
ting the  required  permission.  The  regimental 
mail  bag  iiad  to  be  sent  to  the  city  twice  a  day. 
The  Chaplain  saw  his  opportunity,  and  an- 
nounced a  temporal  as  well  as  an  eternal  reward 
for  those  who  heard  his  call,  viz.,  the  privilege 
of  carrying  the  mail  to  and  from  the  city  for 
each  new  convert  The  scheme  proved  to  be  a 
great  success ;  the  converts  were  numerous  and 
the  immersions  frequent,  each  one  fondly  ex- 
pect ine  that  be  was  the  one  to  carry  the  ban; 
Lieut  John  W.  Hynes  of  Company  A  was  an 
employe  ot  Col.  John  B.  Clark  when  he  enlisted, 
and  was  a  regular  correspondent  of  his  old  pa- 
per, the  Manchester  Mirror. 

His  letters  home  were  filled  with  glowing 
accounts  of  the  great  revival  in  the  camp  of  the 
Third  Regiment,  which  was  pleasing  news  to 
Rev.  Mr.  Hill,  but  just  the  opposite  to  his  min- 
isterial associate.  Chaplain  W  illis  of  the  Fourth 
New  Hampshire,  which,  under  command  of 
Colonel  Tom  Whipple,  was  encamped  near 
Bladensburg.  He,  good  man,  while  pleased  to 
read  ol  the  great  doings  in  the  camp  of  the 
Third,  felt  his  heart  grow  sad  to  think  of  the 
spiritual  condition  of  the  men  un  ler  his  charge, 
and  not  realizing  the  advantage  of  being  so 
near  the  water,  which  was  two  miles  from  his 
camp,  and  not  being  cognizant  of  tne  cunning 
mail  i>ag  arrangement  made  up  his  mind  that 
the  trouble  was  that  Colonel  Whipple  did  not 
take  the  interest  in  the  spiritual  affairs  of  his 
men  that  Colonel  Fellows  did  in  those  under 
his  command. 

The  more  he  thought  of  it  the  more  convinced 


was  he  that  something  must  be  done  for  tne 
sake  of  his  own  reputation.  So  he  plucked  un 
courage  one  morning  and  started  for  the 
Colonel's  tent,  a  little  faint-hearted,  knowing 
full  well  the  convivial  habits  of  his  com- 
mander, and  dreading  the  result  of  the  inter- 
view. Fighting  Joe  Hooker  had  just  been  ap- 
pointed commander  of  his  well-known  brigade, 
tne  Second  New  Hampshire,  Twenty-sixth 
Pennsylvania  and  tne  Eleventh  Massachusetts, 
all  of  whom  were  encamped  a  short  distance 
from  the  Fourth  New  Hampshire.  Only  the 
night  before  he  had  a  spread,  at  which  Colonel 
Whipple  was  present,  so  his  condition  can  be 
imagine  I  when  the  Chaplain  approached.  He 
began  at  once,  growing  earnest  and  eloquent  as 
he  proceeded.  He  told  CoL  Whipple  that 
the  columns  of  the  Mirror  were  filled  with 
glowing  accounts  of  the  great  revival 
in  the  camp  of  the  Third,  which  would,  of 
course,  redound  to  the  credit  of  the  Chaplain 
of  that  regiment,  while  not  a  word  was  said  of 
the  spiritual  condition  of  those  under  bis  com- 
mand; that  he  ha  i  given  the  subject  prayerful 
consideration  and  that,  he  deemed  it  bis  duty  to 
come  and  tell  him,  the  Colonel,  that  he  did  not 
take  the  interest  in  the  religious  welfare  of  his 
men  that  was  taken  by  Col.  Fellows  of  the 
Third,  and  the  result  was  that  he,  the  Chaplain, 
had  to  bear  a  responsibility  which  was  unjust 
The  subject  fairly  broached,  the  Colonel  strode 
to  the  tent  door  and  ba  le  the  Orderly  call  the 
Adjutant.  On  his  appearance,  he  said :  "Adju- 
tant, detail  50  men  to  be  baptized  at  once.  By 
the  Eternal, the  Fourth  won't  play  second  fiddle 
to  the  Third  in  anything  while  1  com  man  I  it" 
Six  years  ago  Corporal  Tanner  delivered  the 
address  at  the  Weirs  reunion.  I  was  the  Presi- 
dent of  the  association  at  the  time.  When  be 
commenced  to  speak  he  opened  with  an  anec- 
dote, as  is  the  custom  with  good  speakers,  and 
to  my  surprise  it  was  the  story  of  the  detail  for 
baptism,  locating  it  in  a  New  York  regiment  I 
stopped  him  just  as  be  got  fairly  into  it,  apolo- 
gizing to  him  and  the  audience  by  saying  that  I 
could  not  allow  it  to  be  stolen  from  New  Hamp- 
shire, especially  when  the  hero  of  the  story  was 
on  the  platform,  and  introduced  Col.  Whipple, 
who  came  forward  and  gave  his  version  ot  the 
affair.  A  more  enjoyable  episode  never  oc- 
curred at  Weirs;  to  none  of  whom  it  was  more 
pleasing  than  to  Tanner,  who  has  ever  since 
given  proper  credit  to  glorious  old  Tom 
Whipple,  who  received  his  final  muster  out 
only  two  vears  ago. 

The  regiment  remained  in  Washington  until 
the  4th  of  October,  when  it  was  ordered  to  An- 
napolis, where  the  Sherman  expedition  was 
being  organized.  While  I  was  at  the  capital  it 
was  my  good  fortune  to  get  a  good  view  of 
President  Lincoln,  who  was  present  in  his  car- 
riage one  evening  at  a  ilress  parade  of  our  regi- 
ment. I  shall  never  torget  how  he  appeared  to 
my  boyish  eyes,  the  sad  expression  of  his  face, 
so  often  described,  beinar  apparent  even  to  me. 
I  also  had  an  opportunity  to  witness  the  grand 
review  of  the  entire  strength  of  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac  on  tbe  fields  east  of  the  capital,  con- 
sisting of  the  infantry,  cavalry  and  artillery 


THE    CHASE    FOR   THE    FUGITIVE    ANVIL. 


113 


SHERMAN    EXPEDITION. 


115 


composed  of  the  flower  of  the  American  youth, 
before  bounty  or  reward  of  any  kind  had  drawn 
a  different  class  into  the  volunteers. 

Arriving  at  Annapolis,  we  found  before  us  the 
Twenty-first  Massachusetts,  which  was  guard- 
ing the  road  between  Annapolis  and  Washing- 
ton. The  Third  was  quartered  in  the  Naval 
Academy  buildings,  occupying  five  of  them. 
Here  we  remained  but  a  few  days.  The  camp 
equipage  arriving,  we  pitched  our  tents  in  rear 
of  St.  Johns  College  on  the  banks  of  the  River 
Severn,  and  were  drowned  out  oy  a  terrific 
thunderstorm  the  first  night 

The  expeditionary  corps  consisted  ot  16.00O 
men,  composed  of  New  England,  New  York  and 
Pennsylvania  regiments,  with  one  each  from 
Michigan  and  several  other  States.  Some  of 
these  regiments,  notably  the  Third  and  Fourtn 
New  Hampshire,  the  Third  Rhode  Island,  the 
Sixth  ami  Seventh  Connecticut,  the  Eighth  and 
Ninth  Maine  and  the  Forty-sixth,  Forty-seventh 
and  Forty-eighth  New  York,  served  either  in 
the  same  brigade,  division  or  corps,  to  the  end 
of  the  war. 

The  troops  commenced  to  embark  on  the  18th 
of  October,  and  on  the  morning  of  the  21st 
weighed  anchor  anil  headed  for  Fortress  Mon- 
roe. It  was  the  good  fortune  of  the  Ttiird  to  be 
assigned  to  the  steamer  Atlantic,  side  wheeler, 
of  tne  Collins  Line,  which  was  to  be  the  head- 
quarters of  Gen,  Sherman  and  staff.  It  was 
commanded  by  Captain  Oliver  Eldridge  of 
Massachusetts,  a  thorough  sailor  and  a  perfect 
gentleman.  Not  a  soldier  in  the  regiment  from 
the  drummer  boy  to  the  Chaplain  but  loved 
him,  and  this  feeling  was  most  cordially  recip- 
rocated by  him. 

The  fact  that  we  were  twenty-one  days  on 
board  the  Atlantic  will  enable  the  reader  to  ap- 
preciate the  situation  and  understand  that  noth- 
ing but  kindness  and  consideration  on  his  part 
could  acquire  the  love  and  esteem  of  a  thousand 
men,  not  one-tenth  of  whom  had  ever  been  on 
board  a  vessel  before.  Fortress  Monroe  was 
reached  on  the  forenoon  of  the  22d,  and  a  busier 
sight  was  rarely  seen  than  was  witnessed  here 
up  to  the  date  of  sailing. 

The  surface  of  the  water  was  covered  with 
all  kinds  of  craft,  from  the  punt  of  the  pie-seller 
to  the  stately  dimensions  of  the  \Yabash,  the 
flag-shio  of  the  fleet,  for  thus  far  this  was  the 
grandest  aggregation  of  vessels  ever  seen  on 
American  waters. 

Side-wheel  and  screw  ocean  steamers,  ships, 
brigs,  barques  an<l  river  and  harbor  steamers  of 
all  sizes  were  constantly  arriving  and  loading 
or  unloading.  On  board  of  the  transports  the 
decks  were  alive  with  men.  to  the  great  majority 
of  whom  the  scene  was  as  new  as  it  was  novel. 

The  destination  of  the  expedition  was  known 
but  to  the  leaders,  and  many  were  the  guesses 
as  to  its  objective  point. 

O:i  the  beach  lacing  us  was  an  immense  piece 
of  ordnance  known  then  as  the  Union  gun ;  in 
our  rear  were  the  Rip  Raps,  rising  out  of  the 
water  rough  and  jagged  looking,  and  in  the  dis- 
ance  could  be  discerned  the  enemy's  works  at 


Sewall's  Point,  the  occupants  of  which  were 
doubtless  as  eager  to  find  where  we  were  going 
aa  we  were  ourselves. 

Here  the  officers  of  the  regiment  got  into  a 
little  "  skirrimage  "  with  quite  a  large  party  of 
correspondents  who  boarded  the  Atlantic  in 
New  York,  and  selected,  naturally,  the  best 
staterooms,  for  the  best  is  never  any  too  good 
for  the  reporter  in  times  of  war  or  peace. 
Among  them  was  one.  at  least,  wno  became 
famous  afterward.  AiUm  Badeau.  who  met  Gen. 
Grant  and  acquired  a  reputation  and  a  Brigadier 
General's  Commission ;  genial  Oscar  Sawyer  of 
the  New  York  Herald,  afterward  Paymaster's 
Clerk  in  the  navy,  and  Doesticks,  the  humorist. 
The  officers  made  a  complaint  to  the  Quarter- 
master, resulting  in  the  correspodents  vacating 
the  rooms,  giving  the  others  the  pick  and  tak- 
ing what  was  left.  Peace  followed,  but  the  in- 
dignation of  the  knights  of  the  quill  was  nat- 
urally deep  if  not  loud,  but  it  was  soon  over,  all 
being  good  fellows. 

While  some  realized  that  this  would  be  a  voy- 
age from  which  only  God  knew  who  would  re- 
turn, nevertheless  all  were  impatient  for  the 
signal  to  weigh  anchor,  as  life  on  the  vessel  was 
getting  intolerable.  Many  were  seasick  and 
confined  to  their  bunks,  and  the  packing  of  ten 
or  twelve  hundred  men  between  decks  did  not 
tend  to  sweeten  the  atmosohere. 


Among  the  members  of  Gen.  Sherman's  staff 
on  the  Atlantic  were  some  whose  names  after- 
ward became  famous:  Capt.  Quincy  A.  Gil- 
more,  the  great  artillerist,  who  became  a  Major 
General ;  Capt.  P.  H.  O'Rourke,  who  fell  after- 
ward at  Little  Round  Top  in  command  of  the 
One  Hundred  and  Fortieth  New  York ;  Lieuten- 
ant, now  General.  Horace  Porter,  whose  name 
is  to-day  a  household  word ;  Captain  General 
Rufus  Saxton,  Chief  Quartermaster,  and  his  as- 
sistant. Captain  C.  E.  Fuller  of  Boston, 
Elsewhere  In  the  fleet  were  Brig. 
Gen.  H  G.  Wright,  commander  of  the  Sixth 
Corps,  Brig.  Gen.  E.  L,  Viele.  Military  Com- 
mandant at  Norfolk,  Brig.  Gen.  L  L  Stevens, 
killed  at  Chantilly.  Col.  and  Maj.  Gen.  Terry, 
whose  name  will  ever  be  connected  with  Fort 
Fisher.  Lieut  Col.,  later  Brig.  Gen.  llawley, 
Gen.  Beaver.  ex-Governor  of  Pennsylvania,  as 
well  as  the  old  sea  dogs,  headed  by  Admiral 
Dupon t,  upon  whom  depended  largely  the  sue- 
cem  of  the  expedition.  Many  of  the  officers 
n;im«d,  in  fact  nearly  all,  were  graduates  of 
West  Point,  so  that  it  was  evident  the  Govern- 
ment was  sending  its  best.  The  material  in  the 
regiments  was  first-class,  whether  it  came  from 
New  England  or  elsewhere.  The  Seventy- 
ninth  New  York,  Cameron's  Highlanders,  had 
been  at  Bull  Run,  and  the  Eighth  Michigan 
was,  as  it  afterward  proved  to  be,  one  of  the 
best  regiments  in  the  service. 

It  was  my  good  fortune  that  the  change  from 
land  to  sea  had  no  effect  on  me.  I  crossed  the 
Atlantic  when  nine  years  of  age  and  had  ex- 
perienced the  many  phases  of  an  ocean  vovage, 
lasting  six  weeks  and  four  days,  and  tasted  the 
sweets  of  a  storm  off  the  banks  of  Newfound- 


110 


STOKIES    OF    OUR    SOLDIERS. 


mud,  the  captain  and  crew  malting  ready  to 
leave  on  the  long  boat,  when  Providence  merci- 
fully interfered  oy  abating  the  storm.  I  now 
felt  quite  at  home,  haying  acquired  my  "sea 
legs  "  after  a  little  practice. 

The  only  draw i >ack  was  the  grub.  Steamed 
salt  pork,  hardtack  and  coffee  was  the  regular 
fare  three  times  a  day.  I  never  could  eat  pork. 
I  cannot  to-day :  but  the  hardtack  being  sweet, 
the  coffee  good— Uncle  Sam  always  furnished 
the  best— and  my  teeth  being  in  the  best  con- 
dition. I  got  along:  tolerably  well  Once  in 
awhile  the  thought  would  come,  I  wonder 
which  of  us  will  return,  for  danger  there  was  on 
all  sides,  on  ocean  and  shore.  Two  of  the 
Forty-seventh  New  "York  were  drowned  by  the 
sinking  of  a  leaky  boat  at  Annapolis,  and  the 
sight  of  their  bodies,  stiff  in  death,  with  the 
features  mutilated  by  the  crabs,  was  a  sigJit  I 
can  never  iorget 

Even  at  Fortress  Monroe,  the  day  before  wo 
left,  one  of  two  soldiers  on  a  vessel  near  by, 
while  fooling  near  the  traff rail,  lost  his  balance 
and  fell  overboard.  A  boat  was  lowered  as 
quick  as  possible,  but  as  the  tide  was  going  out 
toward  the  Rip  Raps  like  »  mill  race,  only  his 
hat  was  recovered.  Scenes  like  these,  before 
the  realities  of  war  had  been  met,  proved  how 
frail  a  hold  one  had  on  Ufa  But  all  things  have 
an  end,  and  so  in  this  case.  Large  as  the  fleet 
was.  everything  was  ready,  the  last  package  of 
commissary  stores,  the  last  case  of  ammunition, 
the  last  piece  of  artillery,  the  last  ton  of  coal 
and  the  last  man  was  on  boar u.  and  at  5  o'clock 
on  Tuesday  morning,  Oct.  29.  1861.  the  signal 
gun  gave  notice  to  weigh  anchor,  and  for  seven 
long  hours  we.  who  were  on  the  ueck  of  the  At- 
lantic, saw  them  glide  by  us.  the  sailing  vessels 
in  tow  of  the  steamers— frigates,  gunboats, 
transports,  coal  barges,  ferry  boats,  etc. 

As  the  transports  went  by,  a  round  of  cheers 
went  up  from  the  decks  9!  each  vessel.  It 
looked  more  like  a  huge  picnic  than  a  hostile 
expedition  bound  for  an  unknown  point.  Just 
31  years  ago,  and  yet  the  scene  is  as  fresh  in  my 
mind  as  if  it  were  but  yesterday.  Among  the 
larger  vessels  of  the  fleet  were  the  Vandorbilt. 
Ocean  Queen,  Ericsson,  Empire  City,  Daniel 
Webster  and  Great  Republic;  but  seven  years 
before  the  latter  had  been  used  by  (be  British 
Government  for  the  same  purpose,  carrying 
men  and  stores  to  the  Crimea.  Tbe  men-of-war, 
in  addition  to  the  Wabash,  were  th«  Pawnee, 
Ottawa,  Curlew,  Isaac  P.  Smith,  beiieca, 
Pembina.  Unadilla,  Penguin,  Pocahontas  and 
Yandalia. 

The  appearance  of  this  fleet  of  nearly  ICO 
•ail,  the  decks  alive  with  men,  was  something 
never  to  be  forgotten.  How  little  the  thousands 
on  board  realized  what  was  before  them  in  the 
long  campaign  beginning  before  Charleston 
and  only  ending  when  Sherman  marched 
to  the  sea.  The  Atlantic  had  been  selected 
as  the  headquarters  of  General  Sherman 
and  staff,  but  at  the  la^t  moment  ihe 
General  changed  ids  quarters  to  the  Wabu.su, 
the  flagship  of  the  fleet,  leaving  his  staff  on  the 


lormer  vessel.  For  this  reason  the  Atlantic  did 
not  weigh  anchor  until  the  last  of  the  squaaron 
sailed  by.  when  in  turn  it  took  its  place  at  noon, 
and  after  steaming  vigorously  for  four  hours, 
fell  into  line,  directly  in  rear  of  the  flagship. 
The  scene  was  beautiful  and  inspiring,  the  ves- 
sels were  arranged  in  three  parallel  lines,  the 
transports  and  storeships  in  the  centre  and  the 
men-of-war  on  the  outside. 

Capes  Henry  and  Charles  once  passed  it  was 
not  long  before  land  was  lost  sight  of  and  we 
were  sailing  for  where?  No  one  could  surmise. 
The  air  was  warm  and  ielicious,  the  watez 
smooth  as  the  surface  of  Lake  \\mnipesaukee 
on  a  June  day,  and  when  the  sun  went  down, 
followed  by  the  shades  of  evening,  a  clear  sky 
made  it  seem  like  a  scene  of  enchantment ;  the 
diamonds  twinkling  in  the  heavens  being 
matched  oy  the  variegated  lanterns  suspended 
from  the  mastheads  of  nearly  a  hundred  crafts, 
the  music  from  over  a  dozen  bands  attached  to 
the  different  regiments,  as  well  as  the  singing  of 
the  boys  on  tue  many  transports,  made  it  seem 
anything  but  warlike,  while  the  character  of 
tiie  songs  denoted  thoughts  of  home — "  My 
Country,  'Tis  of  Thee,"  "  Greenville,"  "  Old 
Grimes  is  Dead,"  "Down  on  the  Swanec  River," 
"  Saw  My  Leg  Off  Short,"  etc. 

The  hour  was  late  when  I  turned  in.  down  two 
stories,  next  to  the  temporary  hospital,  and 
were  it  not  for  the  imperative  call  of  Moruheus 
1  believe  I  would  have  stayed  on  deck  all  nitrht. 
Some  of  the  poor  fellows  by  nay  side  were  quite 
sick,  one  was  already  in  a  hiarh  fever,  at  times 
out  of  his  head,  lie  was  only  a  boy  of  17.  and  it 
was  pitiful  to  hear  him  call  in  his  delirium  for 
his  mother.  At  other  times  be  would  burst  out 
singing  the  hymns  he  had  so  often  sung  at 
home. 

One  in  particular  he  was  forever  singing, 
"Ureenville,"  and  I  never  hear  it  now  but  the 
whole  scene,  like  a  picture,  is  brought  before 
my  view— the  bunks,  three  high,  ench  having 
two  occupants,  with  an  alley  be  twee.,  and  com- 
pletely tilling  the  space  between  decks,  the  dim 
lights,  the  foul  air,  the  pitching  of  the  vessel, 
the  creaking  of  the  timbers,  the  clank  of  the 
machinery,  the  chaffing  and  joking  of  the  well, 
and  tue  complaints  of  the  unfortunate  seasick. 
or  the  moans  of  the  poor  fever-stricken  boy  in 
the  hospital  by  my  side. 

The  cooks  of  the  ship  reaped  a  rich  harvest 
for,  afloat  or  ashore,  t< ie  soldier  was  beat,  right 
and  left.  He  was  the  prey  for  all  who  had  any- 
thing to  sell.  So  far  as  he  was  concerned,  the 
rules  of  honesty  in  trade  were  laid  aside.  He 
paid  in  cash  the  highest  price,  while  his  credit 
was  nil.  and  so  it  proved  here. 

We  paid  25  cents  for  a  CUP  of  tea  and  76  cents 
or  $1  for  a  pie,  all  of  which  was  the  property  of 
Uncle  Sam,  and  supposed  to  be  used  only  for  his 
favored  sons.  The  second  day  out  and  the 
second  night  following  were  of  the  same  charac- 
ter as  those  preceding,  but,  although  the  dreaded 
Hatteras  had  been  passed,  there  was  a  change 
on  the  evening  of  the  third  day;  a  terrible 
storm  blew  up.  whose  memories  will  never  be 


SHERMAN    EXPEDITION. 


117 


forgotten  by  those  who  were  for  three  clays  at 
its  mercy.  By  mi  Inight  it  was  impossible  to 
stand,  sit  or  lie  still. 

The  whistling  of  the  wind  though  the  rig- 
ging, the  creaking  of  the  timbers,  the  pitching: 
and  rolling  of  the  heavily-laden  steamer,  the 
swasli  of  the  waves  asrainst  the  si  !e  of  the  ship 
and  the  constant  clank,  clank,  clank,  of  the  en- 
gines, as  well  as  the  (ears  of  what  might  hap- 
pen, kept  us  all  awake;  and.  as  if  to  make  it 
more  frightful,  the  poor  fellow  stricken  with 
fever  was  singing  at  the  top  of  his  voice  "Green- 
ville," his  feelings  seeming  to  be  in  harmony 
with  the  storm,  which  howled  and  screamed 
like  a  pack  of  demons.  As  if  things 
were  not  bad  enough,  the  regimental 
anvil  got  loose  on  the  upper  deck, 
and  for  over  an  hour  glided  from 
one  side  to  the  other  like  a  thing  of  life,  smash- 
ing everything  in  its  course  and  endangering 
the  lives  or  limbs  of  those  of  the  crew,  who 
finally  succeed <d  in  capturing  it,  but  not,  how- 
ever, before  one  of  them  had  both  legs  t  roken 
in  the  attempt. 

The  experience  of  that  night  will  never  be 
forgotten  by  those  who  survive.  There  was  no 
Inllin  the  storm  on  the  day  following,  and  the 
faces  of  the  ooor  landsmen  were  white  and  woe- 
begone. To  those  who  went  on  deck  the  ocean 
was  an  immense  caldron,  boiling,  hissing,  roar- 
ing, rising,  falling,  accompanied  by  the  wind 
which  blew  like  a  hurricane,  obliging  all  to 
hang  on  to  rope  or  mast  for  dear  life,  and  the  ex- 
expedition — of  all  the  craft  that  sailed  so 
gayly  for  three  days  together,  but  one  was  in 
sight  from  the  deck  of  the  Atlantic,  evidently 
the  Great  Republic,  which  had  broken  loose 
from  its  convoy,  the  Vanderbilt,  during  the 
night,  and  was  pitching  fearfully,  away  to  the 
southeast. 

Another  good  story  at  the  expense  of  the 
Chaplain,  of  what  regiment  it  is  not  necessary 
to  state,  must  be  told  here.  It  was  his  first  trip 
to  sea,  and  he  was  about  as  badly  a  frightened 
man  as  could  be  found  in  the  fleet.  He  stayed 
on  deck  the  live-long  day,  afraid  to  go  below, 
hanging  on  to  any  ohject  lie  coul  I  grasp  for 
dear  lire.  Things  looked  pretty  blue  to  him, 
and  after  a  tremendous  wave  had  drenched  him 
fr  >m  head  to  foot  he  groped  his  way  to  the 
captain,  who  was  ever  at  his  post 

"Oh,  captain,"  said  he,  "this  is  terrible;  do 
you  really  believe  we  are  going  to  pull  through 
it?"  The  captain  assured  him  in  a  soothing 
voice  that  we  would,  and  told  him  not  to  be 
alarmed,  for  all  would  be  right  in  the  end. 
Feeling  encouraged,  he  went  back  to  his  corner, 
only  to  return  again  to  the  captain,  more 
alarmed  than  ever,  for  the  vessel  pitched  fear- 
fully, and  repeated  the  same  question.  This 
time  the  captain  took  his  arm  and  escorted 
him  to  the  forward  part  of  the  vessel,  stooping 
at  the  forecastle,  an<l  lifting  the  cover  he 
told  the  Chaplain  to  stoop  and  listen. 
He  did  so.  and  in  a  moment  he  raised 
his  head,  with  a  look  of  horror  on  his  face. 
"  Captain,"  said  he,  "  this  is  dreadful— to  think 
of  those  men,  almost  on  the  verge  of  eternity. 
and  •wearing  like  demons."  He  had  been 


listening  to  the  sailors  off  duty  in  their 
quarters.  "  Now,  Chaplain,"  said  the  captain. 
"  these  men  have  followed  the  sea  for  years.  Do 
you  suppose,  if  their  experience  led  them  to 
believe  there  was  danger,  they  would  be  swear- 
ing like  that?"  "Ah,"  said  the  Chaplain  ex- 
pressively, and,  unconsciously,  his  face 
shortened — in  fact,  he  almost  smiled.  He  re- 
turned to  his  post  feeling  better,  for  there  was  a 
lull  in  the  storm,  but  for  a  short  time  only. 
Again  the  wind  roared,  the  vessel  pitched,  and 
the  Chaplain  this  time  groped  his  way  alone  to 
the  forecastle.  Reaching  there  he  stooped, 
again  patiently  listened  to  what  was  going  on 
I'elow,  and.  raising  his  hands  with  a  look  of  re- 
lief on  his  face,  he  was  overheard  to  murmur  to 
himself.  "Thank  God.  they  are  still  swearing." 

Night  brought  no  cessation  of  the  storm.  The 
port  holes,  which  had  usually  been  left  open  in 
order  to  enable  us  to  Bet  fresh  air,  were  now 
closed,  screwed  up  tight,  and  to  add  to  our 
misery  the  atmosphere  was  indescribably  loul 
in  consequence.  The  result  was  that  all  were 
pretty  well  discouraged ;  that  is,  all  but  the 
delirious  boy,  whose  strength  seemed,  if  any- 
thing, to  gain  with  the  storm.  Above  the  moans 
o;  the  seaside,  the  roar  of  the  waves,  which  was 
frightful,  and  the  regular  clank  of  the  ma- 
chinery, which  was  ever  at  work,  arose  his 
voice  singing  "Greenville." 

Completely  tired  out.  i  finallyfel'  asleep,  only 
to  be  awakened  by  a  rush  of  waters  and  the 
yells  of  those  around  me.  For  a  moment  I 
thought  we  were  going  to  the  bottom,  for  it 
seemed  as  if  the  vessel  had  turned  over.  I  was 
not  alone  in  that  opinion,  for  some  were  pray- 
ing, thinking  their  last  hour  had  come  sure, 
but  the  fact  that  we  were  still  afloat  gave  us  a 
little  courage.  We  found  one  of  the  bulls'  eyes, 
which  had  been  simply  closed  without  being 
screwed  up.  one  of  the  boys  leaving  it  in  that 
shape  to  get  a  little  fresh  air,  had  been  burst 
open  by  an  immense  wave  which  had  almost 
capsized  the  ship,  and  through  this  aperture 
came  in  an  immense  quantity  of  water,  nearly 
drowning  us  out,  as  well  as  frightening  us  to 
death  before  we  found  out  the  causa 

Although  the  danger  was  over,  sleep  was  out 
of  the  question.  The  old.  familiar  sounds  of  the 
tempest,  the  creaking  of  timbers  and  the 
steady,  monotonous  action  of  the  machinery 
were  still  heard,  but  something  was  missing.  I 
turned  around  and  faced  the  bunk  on  which 
the  singer  was  lying,  but  his  voice  was  still.  I 
raised  myself  up  on  my  elbow,  and  by  the  dim 
light  of  the  binnacle  1  could  see  his  pale,  white 
face  and  outstretched  arms,  dead;  his  troubles 
were  over,  and  "  Greenville  "  is  never  heard 
but  that  the  memories  of  that  terrible  night 
are  brought  iresh  to  my  mind. 

A  visit  to  the  deck  at  day  break  showed  no 
change  in  the  situation,  only  that  five  snips 
could  be  seen  at  different  points. 

In  the  afternoon  a  small  craft  was  sighted 
which  proved  to  be  the  Mayflower,  with  her 
flag  floating.  Union  down.  She  had  a  terrible 
experience  during  the  night;  her  paddle  boxes 


118 


STORIES    OF    OUR    SOLDIERS. 


and  the  works  on  the  upper  decks  were  smashed 
into  kindling  wood,  and  when  near  enough  to 
Bee  with  the  naked  eye,  we  could  perceive  that 
the  men  were  lashed  to  the  mast  or  other  por- 
tions of  the  vessel  to  prevent  their  being  washed 
overboard. 

This  was  at  half-past  4  in  the  afternoon  and 
from  that  hour  until  darkness  set  in  ceaseless 
attempts  were  made  to  take  her  in  tow,  the  first 
officer  of  the  Atlantic,  a  burly  Englishman,  who 
was  never  sober  only  when  halt  full,  .superin- 
tending operations  from  the  gangway. 

A  stout  cable  with  a  barrel  attacneu  to  the 
end  of  it  was  thrown  into  the  sea,  and  around 
this  barrel,  which  was  bobbins:  uu  and  down, 
the  waves  rolled  and  pitched  both  vessels.  On 
the  bows  of  the  Mayflower,  lashed  to  a  portion 
of  the  broken  timber,  was  one  of  the  crew,  mar- 
liuspiKe  in  hand,  ready  to  let  drive  into  the  bar- 
rel when  it  came  near  enough,  but  it  was  a  full 
hour  before  he  succeeded  in  catching  it,  only  to 
have  the  rope  break.  When  this  happened  the 
air  was  fairly  blue  with  the  strong  language  of 
the  first  mate.  Still  keeping  his  position  on  the 
gangway,  he  issued  orders  to  have  a  larger  cable 
procured,  and  after  a  snorter  period  the  second 
rope  was  securely  fastened  an  i  the  Mayflower 
taken  in  tow.  When  this  was  done  it  was  quite 
dark,  and  many  grateful  hearts  returned  thanks 
to  God.  for  another  half  hour's  delay  would 
have  been  fatal  to  those  on  the  Mayflower. 

It  was  Sterne  said  that  "the  armr  swore  ter- 
ribly In  Flanders,"  but  if  he  had  lived  to  our 
day  and  had  heard  this  officer  carve  his  mother- 
tongue  in  scriptural  language,  the  navy  would 
never  have  been  robbed  of  the  honor  which 
rightfully  belonged  to  it;  but  be  that  as  it  may, 
as  he  stood  on  the  gangway  on  that  November 
afternoon,  riding  the  waves  like  a  jockey  on  his 
horse,  issuing  his  orders  for  the  rescue  of  the 
half-drowned  men  on  the  little  steamer,  and 
sticking  to  his  post  until  the  job  was  done,  I  felt 
like  taking  my  hat  off  and  calling  for  three 
rousing  cheers  for  old  John  Bill,  for  a  braver  or 
better  representative  of  the  choleric  old  Briton 
never  lived.  Another  nieht  of  trouble  followed. 
No  let  up  on  the  part  of  old  Boreas,  and  ming- 
ling with  the  feel  ines  of  the  dread  of  (oui.dering 
was  the  regret  at  the  breaking  up  of  the  expe- 
dition, from  which  so  much  hau  been  expected. 

Knowing  the  character  ot  cno  coast  and  the 
destruction  of  the  lighthouses  by  the  enemy, 
the  best  informed  feared  only  the  worst,  the 
wreck  of  the  greater  part  of  the  fleet  and  the  con- 
sequent loss  of  life ;  but  God  willed  otherwise,  for 
toward  morning  the  win  1  died  away  and  the  ad- 
vent of  Sunday  brought  peace  and  safety  after 
sixty  hours  of  continual  storm,  the  like  of  which 
ha'l  not  been  witnessed  for  years.  For  that  rea- 
son it  was  lookect  upon  by  tD«  Confederates  as  a 
direct  interposition  of  heaven  in  their  behalf. 
One  of  their  papers  quoted:  "The  stars  in  their 
courses  fought  against  Sisera."  and  added  "so 
the  winds  of  heaven  fight  for  the  good  cause  of 
Southern  independenca  Let  the  Deborahs  of 
the  South  sing  a  song  of  deliverance." 
Fortunately  for  the  Union  cause  the  wind 
was  not  strong  enough  to  waft  their  hymns  of 


deliverance  beyond  their  own  sacred  soil,  for 
certainly  there  was  no  response  from  above,  the 
expedition,  as  subsequent  events  proved,  hav- 
ing accomplished  the  end  for  which  it  was 
fitted  out.  Terriide  as  the  storm  was.  there 
were  but  four  vessels  and  about  a  dozen  lives 
lost. 

The  vessels  lost  were  the  Governor,  Peerless. 
Osceola.  and  Union. 

The  Governor  very  fortunately  kept  afloat 
until  the  storm  was  over,  foundering  on  Sun- 
day, Nov.  5.  She  had  on  board  a  battalion  of 
marines,  numbering  350  men.  all  of  whom  were 
rescued  by  the  frigate  Saoine — except  a  Cor- 
poral and  half  a  dozen  men.  The  crew  of  the 
Peerless  were  saved  by  the  gunboat  Mohican. 
The  Union  was  wrecked  off  the  coast  of  South 
Carolina,  and  the  Osceola  off  the  coast  ot  North 
Carolina,  and  the  crews  of  both  taken  prisoners. 
The  gunboat  Mercury,  in  order  to  save  herself, 
had  one  of  her  two  rifled  cannon  thrown  over- 
board. 

The  Isaac  P.  Smith  was  obliged  to  part  with 
eight  8-inch  guns  f9r  the  same  purpose.  The 
Florida,  carrying  nine  guns,  the  Belvidere,  the 
Ethan  Allen  and  the  Commodore  Perry  were 
obliged  to  turn  back  to  Fortress  Monroe,  and 
from  them  was  derived  the  first  tidings  of  the 
fate  of  the  expedition— news  which  carried 
sorrow  and  dismay  into  the  homes  of  many 
New  England  readers  of  the  Journal.  This  was 
practically  all  of  the  loss  sustained.  Our  ex- 
perience during  the  storm  was  similar  to  that 
of  the  other  vessels,  save  that  for  many  on  the 
smaller  craft  the  danger  was  far  greater,  the 
steamer  Winfield  Scott,  with  600  men  of  the 
Fiftieth  Pennsylvania,  barely  escaping  destruc- 
tion. 

Bv  Monday  morning,  Nov.  4.  the  "W  abash,  sur- 
rounded by  28  vessels,  anchored  off  the 
entrance  to  Port  Royal  Harbor.  One  of  these 
vessels  was  the  Atlantic,  and  from  its  decks,  on 
Monday  noon,  many  gladsome  eyes  were  gazing 
on  the  sacred  soil  of  South  Carolina,  with  a 
pleasure  second  only  to  the  view  obtained  sea 
ward,  where  from  all  points  of  the  compass,  like 
birds  with  wings  outstretched,  could  be  seen 
the  scattered  ships  of  the  expedition,  all  mak- 
ing for  a  common  port  Three  days  were  taken 
•UD  in  buoying  the  channels  and  allowing 
time  for  the  fleet  to  assemble,  but  al! 
being  ready  on  the  morning  of  the  7th, 
we  could  see  from  the  appearance  of  things 
on  the  decks  of  the  men-of-war  that  the  real 
business  of  the  expedition  was  about  to  begin. 

It  was  a  glorious  morning,  warm  and  sunny, 
not  a  cloud  in  the  sky,  or  hardly  a  ripple  on  the 
water.  We  had  been  gazing  inward  between 
the  forts  on  either  sid«  of  the  bay  and  could  see 
distinctly  the  black  smoke  which  came  from  the 
funnels  of  Tatnul's  little  squadron  as  it  steamed 
from  one  point  lo  another,  and  heard  an  occa- 
sional shot  fired,  which  was  but  a  premonition 
of  what,  was  about  to  take  place.  It  had  been 
ascertained  that  Fort  Walker,  on  Hilton  Head 
Island,  on  the  left  of  the  entrance,  was  the  most 
powerful  of  the  two,  and  it  was  determined  to> 
make  the  main  attack  on  this,  but  by  no  mean* 


SHERMAN    EXPEDITION. 


121 


to  neglect  the  other  at  Bay  Point,  directly  oppo- 
site. 

The  order  of  battle  "comprised  a  main 
squadron  ranged  in  a  line  ahead,  and  a  flanking 
squadron  which  was  to  be  thrown  off  on  the 
northern  section  of  the  harbor  to  engage  Tat- 
nal's  flotilla  and  prevent  them  taking  the  rear 
ships  of  the  main  line  when  it  turned  to  the 
southward,  or  cutting  off  a  disabled  vessel." 

The  plan  of  attack  was  to  pass  up  mi.  i  way  be- 
tween Forts  Walker  and  Beauregar  I.  wnich 
were  about  two  miles  apart,  receiving  ana  re- 
turning the  fire  of  both,  and  at  the  distance  of 
two  and  a  half  miles  northward  of  the  latter, 
round  by  the  west,  and  closing  in  with  the  for- 
mer, attack  its  weakest  flank  and  enfilade  its 
two  water  faces.  The  •vessels  were  to  pass 
abreast  of  the  fort  very  slowly  in  the  order  of 
battle,  and  each  avoid  becoming  a  fixed  mark 
for  the  Confederate  guns.  On  reaching  the 
shoal  ground  making  off  from  the  end  of  Hilton 
Head,  the  line  was  to  the  north  Dy  the  east,  and 
passing  to  the  northward  to  engage  Fort 
Walker,  with  the  fort  battery  nearer 
than  when  first  on  the  same  course.  These 
erolutions  were  to  be  repeated.  The  captains 
of  the  vessels  were  called  on  board  the  Wabash 
and  fully  instructed  in  the  manner  of 
proceeding,  and  this  plan  of  pursuing  a  series 
of  elliptical  movements  were  strictly  followed 
during  the  engagement. 


General  Sherman  had  again  change i  his 
quarters  to  our  vessel,  the  Atlantic,  and.  sur- 
rounded by  the  members  of  his  staff  and  the 
officers  of  the  Third,  took  position  on  too  of  the 
pilot  house  to  observe  the  battle.  The  men-of- 
war  began  to  move  shortly  after  8  o'clock,  and, 
as  the  line  slowly  glided  by,  headed  by  the 
Wabash.  we  could  see  the  men  at  the  guns, 
with  sleeves  rolled  up,  ready  for  action.  A  more 
animated  scene  than  that  presented  at  the  en- 
trance of  Port  Royal  Harbor,  on  that  November 
morning,  was  never  witnessed  on  American 
waters.  On  the  decks  of  the  transports  were 
15,000  soldiers,  young  and  enthusiastic,  full  of 
life,  and  eager  to  disembark  and  take  part  in 
the  engagement.  Every  inch  of  available  space, 
from  the  taffrail  to  the  maintop,  was  occupied 
by  soldiers  or  sailors,  all  burning  to  hear  the 
first  gun  fired  which  they  were  sure  would  end 
in  victory  for  Dupont's  gallant  tars. 


As  vessel  after  vessel  went  by  round  after 
round  of  cheers  went  up  from  the  boys 
on  the  transports,  which  must  have  had  a 
good  effect  on  the  men-of-war.  Eye  and  ear 
were  strained  to  see  and  hear.  Our  vessel,  on 
account  of  the  presence  of  General  Sherman, 
was  a  full  mile  nearer  the  scene  of  action  than 
any  of  th^  other  transports,  so  that  we  could  see 
quite  distinctly  the  flags  flying  from  the  staff  in 
lort  Walker.  As  our  vessels  advanced  we  could 
see  Tatnali's  fleet  slowly  receding  in  the  uis- 
tance.  The  first  gun  was  fired  about  half-past  9 
from  Fort  Walker.  Instantly  it  was  followed 
by  one  from  Fort  Beauregard.  and  responded  to 


by  the  Wabash  and  Susquehanna,   which  were 
between  the  forts. 


In  less  time  than  it  takes  to  tell  it,  all  the 
vessels  were  engaged,  and  for  two  hours  a  bom- 
bardment of  shot  an  I  shell  took  place,  the  like 
of  which  the  country  had  not  seen  thus  far. 
Vessels  and  fort  were  soon  envelope  I  in  im- 
penetrable smoke,  from  which  belched  out  fire 
and  destruction  to  those  on  shore.  The  blaze 
of  the  guns  gave  us  an  occasional  glimpse  of 
the  ships  as  they  sailed  in  the  order  described. 
The  clouds  of  du^t  on  shore  caused  by  the  burst- 
ing shells,  the  deafening  cannonading  and  tne 
thick  sulphurous  smoke  which  was  lighte  1  up 
at  intervals  by  the  flash  of  the  guns,  as  broad- 
side after  broa  iside  was  ooure  1  into  the  de- 
voted defenders  of  the  Palmetto  State,  formed 
a  vivid  contrast  to  the  scene  outside,  where  the 
expectant  thousands  were  looking  on,  under  a 
clear  sky  and  a  bright  sun. 


At  last  we  could  see  that  Fort  Beauregard 
was  let  severely  alone,  the  fleet  confining  its 
operations  to  Fort  Walker  on  Hilton  Head 
Island.  About  11  o'clock  there  was  a  lull  in 
the  storm,  and  tne  Wabash  could  be  perceived 
slowly  approaching  tne  fort,  paying  no  at- 
tention to  the  rain  of  shot  poured  from  the 
shore. 

The  man  with  the  lead  in  his  hand  we  could 
see  deliberately  at  his  work  taking  soundings; 
the  anchor  was  cast  out,  the  vessel  swung  round 
with  the  tide,  an  i  poured  broadside  after  broad- 
side into  the  fort  at  short  range. 

At  half-past  eleven  the  flag  of  Fort  Walker 
was  shot  away,  and  from  this  time  the  fire  of 
tbt>  enemy  grew  weaker  and  weaker,  the  heavy 
guns  of  tne  Wabash  and  the  Susquehanna  get- 
ting in  their  work  effectually,  and  the  shells 
from  the  smaller  vessels  tailing  so  thickly  on 
the  enfilading  point  that  in  a  short  time  their 
guns  ceased  to  reply. 


About  2  o'clock  a  boat  could  be  seen  leaving 
the  side  of  one  of  the  vessels.  Every  eye  was 
strained,  It  touched  land.  Gen.  Sherman  was 
looking  intently  through  a  glass.  All  of  a  sudden 
he  dropped  the  glass  and  cried  out:  "  The  fort  is 
ours,"  taking  off  his  cap  and  cheering;  at  the 
same  time  the  band,  which  was  in  readiness, 
struck  up  the'  "  Star-spangled  Banner."  followed 
by  "Yankee  Doo  ile.''  the  soldiers  cheering  and 
yelling  like  madmen.  Officers  and  privates 
were  mixed  up  indiscriminately  on  the  quarter 
deck,  shaking  hands,  dancing,  singing  and 
cheering,  and  during  all  this  every  vessel  in  the 
fleet  was  moving  in  toward  the  fort 


The  scenes  on  the  deck  of  each  were  similar 
to  those  on  board  the  Atlantic.  It  was  quite  a 
transformation  in  one  short  week  from  a  strug- 
gle for  life  in  an  angry  storm  to  a  successful 
termination  of  tlie  labors  of  the  expedition. 

Just  seven  months  from  the  time  Fort  Sumter 
was  fired  upon  the  authority  of  tne  United 
States  was  re-established  on  the  soil  of  South 


122 


STORIES    OF    OUR    SOLDIERS. 


JOHN    C.    LINEHAN. 


Carolina,  and  here  began  the  struggle  Inaugu- 
rated at  James  Island  in  the  early  summer  of 
1862.  with  its  sad  memories  of  Morris  Island 
and  Wagner,  that  did  not  end  until  Sherman's 
march  on  Columbia  hastened  the  fall  of 
Charleston  and  broke  the  back  of  the  Rebellion. 
JOHN  C.  LINEHAN. 


SKETCH  OF  J.  C.  LINEHAN. 
Hon.  John  C.  Linehan  of  Penacook,  N.  EL,  was 
born  in  County  Cork,  Ireland,  on  the  banks  of 
the  historic  River  Lee.  on  Feb.  9. 1840.  and  nina 
years  later  came  to  the  United  States.  At  the 
breaking  out  of  the  War  of  the  Rebellion  he 
was  foreman  of  the  Rolfe  Brothers'  box  shop  in 


Penacook.  After  the  war  he  was  25  years  a 
merchant  at  Penacook,  and  in  1890  was  ap- 
pointed state  Insurance  Commissioner  of  New 
Hampshire,  which  office  he  now  holds.  He  was 
a  member  of  Gov.  Sawyer's  Council  in  1887  and 
1888.  and  has  served  in  both  branches  of  the 
Concord  Municipal  Government,  He  is  a  Trus- 
tee of  the  New  Hampshire  Industrial  School  at 
Manchester.  Comrade  Linehan  is  Past  Depart- 
ment Commander  of  New  Hampshire,  and  Past 
Junior  Vice  Commander-in-Chief  of  the  Gram) 
Army  of  the  Republic,  and  ex-President  of  the 
New  Hampshire  Veterans' Association.  In  1884 
he  was  appointed  a  Director  of  the  Gettysburg 
Battlefield  Monument  Association,  which  posi- 
tion he  still  fills.  He  is  widely  known  as  a  pop- 
ular and  eloquent  public  speaker. 


A  GREAT  NAVAL  BATTLE. 


[The  well-known  Pension  Agent  for  New  England. 
Comrade  and  ex-Representative,  William  H.  Osborne, 
enlisted  In  Company  C,  Twenty-ninth  Massachu- 
setts Regiment,  May  18,  1861,  and  was  mustered 
into  service  at  Fort  Monroe,  Va.,  May  22,  1861, 
for  three  years.  His  age  was  21  years.  He  was  a 
graduate  of  Bridge-water  State  Normal  School,  and  at  the 
time  of  his  enlistment  a  teacher  In  the  public  schools  of 
Plymouth  county.  He  had  prepared  himself  for  admis- 
sion to  Bowdoin  College,  Maine,  and  was  about  to  enter 
that  institution,  but  like  thousands  of  other  young  men 
of  his  day  was  drawn  away  from  his  books  and  profession 
into  the  army  by  the  then  predominant  sentiments  of 
patriotism.  He  served  In  the  department  of  Fort  Monroe 
till  J  uue,  1862,  when  his  regiment  joined  the  Army  of  the 
Potomae,  then  besieging  Richmond.  He  was  engaged  in 
a  severe  skirmish  June  15  at  Fair  Oaks,  and  in  the  follow- 
ing battles:  Gaines  Mills,  Peach  Orchard,  Savage's  Sta- 
tion, White  Oaks,  Swamp  Bridge,  Charles  City  Cross 
Roads  and  Malvern  Hill. 

At  the  latter  battle  he  was  twice  wounded,  the  second 
time  severely,  in  his  left  leg,  was  left  on  the  field  and  fell 
into  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  After  suffering  intensely 
from  his  wounds  and  imprisonment  he  was  finally  re- 
leased and  conveyed  to  a  Government  hospital,  where  he 
was  under  treatment  for  many  months.  After  his  dis- 
charge from  the  service  he  read  law,  and  was  admitted  to 
the  Plymouth  Bar  in  1864.  In  1872,  and  again  in  1884, 
he  represented  his  district  in  the  Massachusetts  House  of 
Representatives,  the  last  time  serving  on  the  Judiciary 
Committee.  He  was  appointed  United  States  Pension 
Agent  at  Boston  by  President  Harrison  May  28, 1890,  and 
assumed  charge  of  the  office  July  1, 1890.  He  is  the  his- 
torian of  his  regiment.  J 

During  the  winter  and  spring  of  1862  my 
resriment— the  Twenty-ninth  Massachusetts — 
was  stationed  at  Camp  Butler.  Newport  News, 
on  the  right  bank  of  the  James  River.  The 
place  was  seized  by  Gen.  Butler  in  May,  1861, 
and  fortified  in  a  strong  manner.  Its  occupa- 
tion secured  to  the  Government  the  unchecked 


navigation  of  a  considerable  portion,  of  the 
James,  while  as  a  post  of  observation  it  was  of 
the  first  importance.  The  camp  was  on  an 
elevated  plateau  of  about  two  miles  in  length 
and  half  a  mile  wide,  while  the  banks  of  the 
stream  at  this  point  rose  to  a  height  of  30  feet. 

The  post  was  commanded  at  the  time  of  which 
we  are  about  to  speak  by  Brigadier  General  Jo- 
seph K.  F.  Mansfield,  an  old  officer  of  the  regu- 
lar army,  afterwards  commander  of  the  Twelfth 
Corps,  and  who  while  in  command  of  that  corps 
was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Antietam  Sept.  17, 
1862. 

The  garrison  at  Camp  Butler  at  this  time  con- 
sisted of  about  4000  infantry.  Capt.  Howard's 
light  battery  and  a  small  body  of  cavalry.  To 
insure  immunity  from  attack  by  water,  the 
frigate  Congress  and  the  sloop-of-war  Cumber- 
land were  stationed  in  the  river,  the  Cumber- 
land directly  opposite  our  camp  and  about  a 
half  mile  from  it,  and  the  Congress  lower  down 
the  stream. 

The  tragic  event  of  the  8th  and  9th  of  March, 
1862,  popularly  known  as  the  "Battle  of  the 
Mernmac  and  Monitor."  were  witnessed  by 
me  while  one  of  this  garrison,  under  exception- 
ally favorable  circumstances,  favorable  so  far 
as  being  in  a  position  to  observe  what  hap- 
pened, though  in  another  sense  unfavorable, 
because  the  garrison  was  under  fire  nearly  the 
whole  of  both  days. 

Saturday,  the  8th  of  March  was  a  calm,  warm, 
cloudless  day.  The  noon-day  meal  had  been 
eaten,  and  as  nothing  unusual  had  happened  up 
to  that  time  the  men  were  strolling  about  camp, 
smoking  and  enjoying  the  balmy,  soft  air.  As 


124 


STORIES    OF    OUR    SOLDIERS. 


tbe  next  day  was  tbe  weekly  inspection.  I  had 
taken  a  notion  to  prepare  for  it.  I  bad  cleaned 
the  brasses  upon  my  equipment*,  packed  my 
knapsack,  and.  spreading:  a  blanket  upon  the 
floor  of  my  barrack,  had  commenced  cleaning 
my  rifle.  The  barrel  was  out  of  the  stock  and 
the  lock  taken  apart,  which  at  that  moment  I 
was  engaged  in  oiling. 

In  this  situation  the  long  roil  sounded  with  a 
fierceness  of.alarm  such  as  I  had  never  heard 
before.  I  was  in  a  siate  of  deplorable  unreadi- 
ness. At  first  my  hands  shook,  and  It  seemed 
an  impossible  task  to  gather  up  tbe  scattered 
parts  of  my  rifle  and  put  them  together.  1  did 
it.  however,  quickly,  but  how,  1  could  never  tell. 

In  a  few  minutes  the  whole  camp  resounded 
with  the  shouts  of  the  men  and  the  commands 
of  the  officers  Every  soldier  was  running  to 
his  quarters  to  secure  his  arms  and  equipments, 
and  naving  put  myself  in  readiness  I  stepped  to 
my  barrack  door  and  looked  toward  the  river. 
A  single  glance  showed  the  cause  of  the  alarm. 

Over  toward  the  southerly  shore,  at  the 
mouth  of  the  .Elizabeth,  was  an  immense  float- 
ing structure  haying  the  appearance  of  a  house, 
with  a  large  chimney  in  the  centre,  sending 
out  dense  volumes  of  pitchy  black  smoke.  It 
was  unlike  anything  I  had  ever  before  seen 
upon  the  water.  In  the  nautical  language  of 
one  of  the  sailors  of  the  Cumberland,  "A  long- 
shore meeting  house  was  steaming  down  the 
bay."  It  was  accompanied  by  two  small 
steamers,  and  all  were  making  a  straight  wake 
for  our  camp. 

At  this  moment  I  chanced  to  look  up  the  river 
and  some  five  or  six  miles  away  were  to  be  seen 
two  large  black-looking  steamers  and  a  small 
tug. 

The  "'longshore  meeting-house"  was  the 
Merrimac;  her  consorts  were  the  Bean  tort  and 
Raleigh,  while  the  other  three  were  tbe  James- 
town and  Yorktown  and  the  tug  Teaser,  the 
latter  an  old  acauaintance  of  ours. 

It  was  evident  that  r>oth  our  camp  and  our 
vessels  were  to  be  attacked  and  that  there  was 
soon  to  burst  upon  us  one  of  the  wildest  and 
most  destructive  storms  of  war. 

The  drums  of  the  Congress  and  Cumberland 
were  heard  beating  their  anxious  crews  to  quar- 
ters. 

All  the  trooDS  were  soon  under  arms  and  in 
line  by  companies,  but  as  there  was  nothing  for 
the  men  to  do.  there  being  at  that  moment  no 
indication  of  a  land  attack,  it  became  an  im- 
possible task  to  keep  them  in  position.  First 
one  and  then  another  would  break  and  run 
towards  the  river  to  get  a  better  view  of  the 
passing  scene.  In  the  course  of  16  minutes  it  is 
safe  to  say  that  two-thirds  of  our  regiment  were 
clustered  around  the  battery  on  the  river  bank, 
which  was  exclusively  manned  by  members  of 
the  regiment. 

The  battery  men  had  their  guns  all  loaded 
and  shotted  and  stood  ready  to  take  a  hand  in 
the  coming  battle  as  soon  as  a  chance  should 
offer. 


By  this  time  the  Merrimac  was  passing  the 
Congress  and  receiving  her  fire,  only  returning 
it  with  a  single  shot  as  she  crossed  her  bows. 
The  Cumberland  was  also  firing,  indeed  she 
fired  the  first  shot  in  the  battle,  and  the  .Merri- 
mac was  steaming  straight  toward  her,  seeming 
to  regard  her  from  the  first  as  the  only  foe 
worthy  of  her  steeL 

In  the  course  of  a  few  minutes  the  Merrimac 
was  close  alongside,  and  then  broadside  fol- 
l9wed  broadside,  with  a  sharp  roar,  that  was 
simplv  deafening.  The  smoke  rose  rapidly,  and 
soon  nothing  but  the  upper  works  of  the  two 
vessels  could  be  seen  by  us.  In  this  -ituatiou 
we  could  form  no  idea  of  how  the  battle  was  go- 
ing, for  as  a  matter  pi  fact  we  baa  at  that 
moment  no  conception  of  the  invulnerable 
character  of  our  foe. 

The  Cumberland  was  still  at  anchor  with  sails 
furled.  Occasionally  we  could  hear  excited 
human  voices. 

Suddenly  the  fire  slackened,  and  a  slight  puit 
of  wind  drove  the  smoke  away.  Some  one  cried 
out  that  tbe  Cumberland  was  sinking.  I  riv- 
eted my  eyes  upon  her.  and  noticed  she  ha  i 
assumed  a  rolling  motion;  finally  her  bows 
pitched  downward,  then  it  rose  and  her  stern 
settled;  a  few  more  of  these  ominous  move- 
ments and  her  bows  made  a  sudden,  deep 
plunge,  her  stern  mounted  high  in  the  air.  and 
with  a  roaring,  rushing  sound  she  disappeared 
beneath  the  dark  waters  of  the  stream. 

She  never  struck  her  flag,  and  just  before  she 
made  her  last  plunge  she  discharged  her  for- 
ward pivot  gun  on  the  spar  deck  at  the  enemy. 
Now  there  was  something  for  the  soldiers  to  do. 
Many  of  the  sailors  had  already  jumped  from 
her  deck  into  the  water  and  were  striking  for 
the  shore.  The  water  seemed  full  of  bobbing 
heads.  With  one  accord  hundreds  of  the  sol- 
diers rushed  to  the  sand  beach.  Everything 
that  would  float  was  thrown  into  the  water  to 
aid  the  swimmers,  and  some  running  into  the 
stream  to  theit  armpits, seized  the  half-drowned 
sailors  and  dragged  them  to  the  land.  About 
one  hundred  dead  and  wounded  are  said  to 
have  gone  down  with  the  ship. 

One  of  my  townsmen  was  a  sailor  on  the  Cum- 
berland, and  his  i>rave  young  son  was  a  mem- 
ber of  my  company.  He  stood  beside  me  on 
the  river  bank  watching  the  battle,  and  when 
the  ship  began  to  sink  he  could  stand  it  no 
longer,  but  ran  to  the  beach,  jumped  into  a 
small  boat  and  went  paddling  out  among  the 
struggling  sailors  in  search  of  his  father.  He 
found  him  about  half  way  to  the  shore  and 
brought  him  to  our  company  barrack,  where 
we  provided  him  with  dry  clothing.  It  was  al- 
ways a  wonder  to  me  that  the  Merrimac  did  not 
fire  at  our  men  as  they  were  huddled  together 
on  the  shore.  One  or  two  charges  of  grape 
would  have  blown  hundreds  of  them  into 
eternity. 

As  soon  as  the  sailors  were  rescued,  about  200 
of  them,  there  was  a  fight  between  the  Merri- 


126 


STORIES    OF    OUR    SOLDIERS. 


mac  and  our  laud  battery.  The  smoke  had 
cleared  away  and  there  sne  lay,  broal side  od, 
surveying  us.  Every  one  of  our  heavy  guns 
were  repeatedly  trained  on  her  and  discharged, 
and  every  shot  struck  and  glanced  from  her 
mailed  side. 

Once  or  twice  she  replied,  with  shell,  but  they 
all  struck  the  bank  below  the  battery,  and  did 
as  no  harm. 

About  this  time  there  was  a  scene  upon  the 
deck  of  t ne  ironclad  that  provoked  the  applause 
of  our  men.  At  the  moment  she  was  not  only 
under  the  fire  of  all  the  (runs  in  oar 
battery.  but  of  other  guns  in  the 
camp.  Finally  her  flagstaff  came 
down,  when,  with  the  quicKness  of  a  monkey, 
out  ran  a  rebel  sailor  and  laahed  up  the  broken 
1  staff.  He  ha  i  scarcely  left  it  before  it  was 
prostrate  again.  Three  times,  with  trie  shot 
and  shell  striking  and  breaking  all  over  the 
sides  and  deck  of  the  vessel,  this  brave  act  was 
repeated,  and  each  time  was  loudly  cheered  by 
our  men  on  shore. 

The  last  time  this  rebel  hero  left  the  scene  of 
his  bravery  he  paused  on  the  edge  of  the  hatch- 
way, and,  straightening:  himself  up,  gave  us 
a  true  military  salute. 

It  is  impossible  to  relate  within  the  compass 
of  a  newspaper  article  all  the  noteworthy  events 
of  that  afternoon. 

After  the  lapse  of  about  three-quarters  of  an 
hour  the  Merrimac  steamed  clown  stream  to 
complete  the  destruction  of  the  Congress, 
which,  by  that  time,  had,  with  the  aid  of  one 
of  our  tugs,  oeen  beached.  Taking:  up  a  posi- 
tion under  the  stern  of  the  latter,  she  raked  her 
repeatedly  with  her  heavy  guns.  The  most  of 
the  surviving  crew  of  the  Congress  had  already 
escaped  through  the  bow  ports  and  been  res- 
cued by  the  garrison.  An  attempt  by  one  of 
the  smaller  rebel  steamers  to  capture  the  frigate 
and  tow  her  off  as  a  prize  of  war,  was  frustrated 
oy  the  soldiers  of  the  Twentieth  Indiana  Kegi- 
ment,  who  showered  well-aimed  balls  upon  the 
decks  of  the  steamer  and  drove  her  away. 

Nearly  all  the  time  that  these  events  had 
been  transpiring  the  rebel  steamers  Yorktown 
and  Jamestown  were  shelling  our  camp,  firing 
mostly  percussion  shell. 

Their  gunnery  was  shockingly  poor,  not  more 
than  two  or  three  of  all  the  shells  they  fired 
striking  within  the  limits  of  the  camp.  These 
vessels  were  finally  driven  away  by  Capt. 
Howard's  battery.  One  or  more  of  his  shots 
penetrated  the  side  of  one  of  these  steamers, 
and,  showing  signs  01  distress,  she  was  towed 
out  of  range. 

Once  during  the  shelling  of  our  camp  by  these 
vessels,  the  garrison  was  in  a  roar  of  laughter. 
A  soldier  of  the  Eleventh  New  York  was  pacing 
his  beat,  about  midway  between  the  outer 
breastworks  and  the  woods.  A  large  percussion 
shell  struck  tne  earth  near  him  and  buried  itself 
in  the  ground,  exploding  as  it  did  so.  A  frag- 
ment of  turf  about  the  size  of  one's  head  struck 
the  soldier  in  his  oack.  Dropping  his  musket, 
he  ran  leg  bail  for  his  camp,  shouting  to  the 
height  of  his  voice  that  he  was  killed.  Being 


soon  convinced  that  he  was  unhurt,  he 
meekly  returned  to  his  post  and  resumed  his 
duties,  though  he  kept  a  sham  lookout  at  the 
hole  in  the  ground,  evidently  supposing  there 
was  more  trouble  there  in  store  for  him. 

During  the  afternoon  the  steam  frigates  Min- 
nesota and  St  Lawrence  left  their  anchorage 
in  Hampton  Roa  is  and  attempted  to  come  to 
the  relief  of  our  fleet  in  the  James,  but  botli 
grounded  at  the  mouth  of  the  river,  and  as  the 
tide  was  ebbing,  all  efforts  to  move  them  proved 
fruitless.  After  riddling  the  Congress  with  her 
shot,  the  Merrimac  with  all  her  consorts,  started 
down  stream  to  aestroy  these  two  national  ves- 
sels. 

A  sharp  battle  occurred  between  them  at 
somewhat  long  range  :md  continued  till  near 
nightfall,  with  no  apparent  serious  effects  on 
either  s>  de 

The  withdrawal  of  the  rebel  fleet  from  the 
immediate  vicinity  of  our  camp  gave  us  an  op- 
portunity to  take  a  somewhat  calmer  view  of 
the  wreck  and  ruin  of  the  afternoon's  battle. 
Boats  were  launched  and  the  wounded  and  many 
of  the  dead  sailors  still  remaining  on  the  Con- 
gress were  removed  to  the  shore.  The  soldiers 
and  the  rescued  sailors  were  gathered  together 
in  groups  discussing  the  events  of  the  day, 
thinking  that  our  trouble  for  the  time  being 
was  over,  when  looking  down  stream  the  Mer- 
rimac. to  the  horror  of  all,  was  again  seen  ap- 
proaching us. 

This  time  sue  had  taken  the  inner  channel, 
and  as  she  came  along,  her .  immense  smoke- 
stack towering  up  among  the  branches  of  th« 
trees  that  overhung  the  river  bank,  belching 
forth  volumes  of  smoke  and  sparks,  her  appear- 
ance was  simply  appalling. 

Arriving  at  a  point  where  the  channel  winds 
in  nearest  to  the  snore,  the  camp  was  fairly 
within  range  of  her  bow  gun.  A  sudden  burst 
of  light,  a  dismal,  deateninir  roar  and  the  crash- 
ing of  boards  and  timbers  were  heard  almost 
simultaneously, 

The  large  shot  passed  entirely  through  the 
post  hospital  and  the  headquarters  building  of 
General  Mansfield,  tearing  down  the  chimney 
of  his  house  and  nearly  burying  that  venerable 
officer  in  the  ruins.  He  was  fortunately  but  lit- 
tle hart,  and  soon  emerged  from  his  quarters 
white  with  plaster.  This  ended  the  hostilities 
of  the  8th  of  March.  The  Merrimac  now  with- 
drew, and  darkness  soon  settled  down  unon 
both  land  and  water. 

The  night  was  one  of  great  gloom  and  excite- 
ment in  Camp  Butler  as  well  as  all  the  Federal 
camps  in_  the  department.  Mounted  orderlies 
were  riding  in  every  direction,  and  rumors  were 
rife  of  a  land  attack  t>y  the  enemy's  troops 
under  Magruder.  In  anticipation  of  such  an  at- 
tack, the  garrison  was  reinforced  soon  after  dark 
by  the  Sixteenth  Massachusetts  and  other 
troops  from  Camp  Hamilton,  near  Fort  Monroe. 

These  troops  broti^nt  with  them  a  report  that 
a  Federal  ironclad  steamer  ha  1  arrived  in 


A    GKKAT    NAVAL    BATTLE. 


129 


Hamoton  Roads  late  in  the  afternoon,  and  had 
gone  to  the  relief  of  the  Minnesota,  then 
aground  at  the  mouth  of  the  James. 

Having:  partaken  of  my  supper,  with  one  or 
more  of  my  comrades  I  walked  to  the  beach  and 
started  down  where  the  Congress  lay  aground, 
a  distance  of  perhaps  half  a  mile.  The  night 
was  very  dark,  and  as  soon  as  we  had  descended 
the  bank  and  reached  the  shore  we  discovered 
that  the  Congress  was  afire  between  decks.  All 
her  ports  were  open,  and  the  light  of  the  fire 
shone  oat  upon  the  water. 

Some  one  suggested  that  possibly  her  guns 
were  loaded  and  that  we  had  better  keeu  out  of 
ranvce  of  them. 

The  words  were  scarcely  spoken  before  one 
and  then  another  of  them  discharged  A  shot 
from  one  of  these  guns,  skimming  the  surface 
of  the  water,  entered  and  sank  a  schooner  lying 
at  the  wharf  near  the  main  camp. 

Seeking  a  place  of  safety  we  watched  for  the 
first  time  in  our  lives  the  spectacle  of  a  burn- 
ing ship.  The  flames  soon  hurst  out  of  the 
hatchways,  communicating  with  the  masts, 
rigging  and  sails,  for  they  were  all  unfurled, 
and  were  leaping  out  at  every  port  with  angry 
tongues.  Heaps  of  shell,  which  had  been 
brought  from  the  magazines  for  the  afternoon's 
encounter,  lay  upon  the  gun-decks;  these  now 
began  to  explode,  and  ever  and  anon  they  would 
dart  up  out  of  the  roaring,  crackling  mass  high 
into  the  air  and  course  in  every  direction 
through  the  heavens.  At  about  12  o'clock  the 
magazines  blew  up  with  a  terrific  noise. 

This  event  had  been  anticipated  by  the  garri- 
son, and  the  shores  and  adjacent  camps  were 
crowded  with  awestruck  gazers.  The  whole 
upper  works  of  the  frigate  had  hours  before 
been  reduced  to  ashes  by  the  devouring  flames, 
the  masts  and  spars,  blackened  and  charred,  had 
fallen  into  and  across  the  burning  hull;  these 
were  sent  high  into  the  air  with  other  debris, 
and  as  blast  succeeded  blast  were  suddenly 
arrested  in  their  descent  and  again  sent 
skywarrl.  The  spectacle  thus  presented 
was  awfully  grand;  a  column  of  fire 
and  sulphurous  smoke  fifty  leet  in 
diameter  at  its  base  and  not  less  than  two  hun- 
dred feet  high,  dividing  in  its  centre  into  thou- 
sands of  smaller  jets,  and  falling  in  myriads  of 
bunches  and  grains  of  fire  like  the  sprays  of  a 
gigantic  fountain,  lighted  up  the  bay  and  the 
strand  with  a  brightness  rivaling  that  of  the  dav 
itself.  The  sides  of  the  hapless  Congress  were 
thrown  open  by  the  last  explosion,  and  then 
darkness  almost  palpable  reigned  supreme. 

"When  the  soldiers  of  Camp  Butler  turned 
away  from  that  scene  to  retire  to  their  quar- 
ters for  a  few  hours  of  nee  led  sleep  it  was  with 
heavy  hearts.  The  recollection  of  the  harrow- 
ing events  of  the  afternoon  was  still  fresh  in 
their  minds.  They  had  now  witnessed  the  total 
destruction  of  another  vessel  of  our  navy,  the 
loss  of  which  gave  joy  to  the  South,  a  new  leasi; 
of  life  to  the  Rebellion, and  operated  to  postpone 
the  day  when  they  would  be  permitted  to  doff 
the  blue  and  return  to  their  peaceful  homes. 

I  do  not  remember  whether   I  dreamed   that 


night  of  war  or  rumors  of  war.  but  I  do  remem- 
ber that  before  I  retired  I  made  arrangements 
with  a  comrade  to  start  as  soon  as  we  awoke  in 
the  morning  lor  the  point  at  the  month  of  the 
river.  We  had  each  of  us  provided  ourselves 
with  a  field  glass,  one  of  them  quite  powerful, 
and  at  about  6  o'clock— at  least  as  soon  as  we 
had  answered  roll  call  in  the  morning — we  were 
on  our  way  toward  the  point  This  situation 
commanded  an  unobstructed  view  of  Hampton 
Roads  ana  the  broad  estuary  formed  by  the  con- 
fluence of  the  James  ana  Elizabeth  Rivers. 

The  Minnesota  was  still  aground,  but  her  con- 
sort, the  St  Lawrence,  had  floated  during  the 
night  and  steamed  down  under  the  guns  of  the 
fort,  where  she  was  at  anchor. 

By  the  aid  of  our  glasses  we  could  distinctly 
see  the  entire  Confederate  fleet  lying  at  anchor 
near  their  land  batteries  at  Sewall's  Point,  at 
the  mouth  of  the  Elizabeth.  The  day  broke  fair 
and  warm,  ami  so  calm  andpeaceful  was  every- 
thing; upon  both  land  and  water  that  it  seemed 
very  like  pareparation  for  the  funeral  of  the 
200  brave  men  who  had  tasted  death  ou  the  pre- 
ceding day. 

At  the  time  we  reached  the  point  there 
were  not  above  a  dozen  persons  there,  save  the 
regular  guard,  hut  in  the  course  of  20  minutes 
General  Mansfield  and  staff  made  their  appear- 
ance, followed  by  several  companies  of  infantry 
carrying  pickaxes  and  shovels. 

These  men  immediately  fell  at  work  throwing 
up  an  intrenchment  across  the  entire  point  and 
the  spectators  were  ordered  back  to  their  re- 
spective commands. 

My  desire  to  witness  the  movements  upon 
the  water,  which  had  already  com- 
menced by  the  Merrimac  and  her  consorts  leav- 
ing their  moorings  and  steaming  toward  Fort 
Monroe,  led  me  to  disobey  the  orders  of  my 
commanding  officer,  and  I  skulked  off  toward 
the  woods  and  climbed  a  tall  cotton  wood  tree, 
where  I  had  even  a  better  view  than  at  the 
point  itself.  Seating  myself  among  the 
branches,  with  glass  in  hand,  I  surveyed  the 
scene  before  me  with  an  intensity  of  interest 
such  as  1  can  hardlv  describe.  I  remained  in  my 
elevated  perch  Irom  about  7  o'clock  till  near  1 
in  the  afternoon,  watching  closely  every  occur- 
rence of  that  historic  day 

The  Merrimac  nad  not  proceeded  far  toward 
Fort  Monroe  before  she  suddenly  turned  and 
steered  toward  the  mouth  of  the  James.  I  could 
plainly  see  a  commotion  unon  the  decKs  of  the 
Minnesota  and  distinctly  hear  her  drums  beat- 
ing the  alarm. 

when  the  Merrimac  had  arrived  within  fair 
range  she  fired  a  shot  from  her  bow  gun.  There- 
upon fire  was  opened  by  the  frigate.  I  observed 
at  that  moment  that  certain  liag  signals  were 
being  made  by  the  latter  ship  and  soon  1  noticed 
a  steam  vessel  leaving  her  side,  which  had 
previously  been  hidden  from  my  view.  It  had 
every  appearance  of  a  raft  with  a  tower  in  the 
centre. 

This  was  another  revelation  to  me,  and.  re- 


130 


STORIES    OF    OUR    SOLDIERS. 


membering  the  reports  I  had  heard  the  night 
before,  I  concluded  it  was  our  ironclad.  It  was, 
indeed,  the  little  David  that  had  so  opportunely 
come  to  contend  with  the  Goliath  of  the  enemy, 
the  veritable  and  the  historic  Monitor.  But,  as 
I  put  my  glass  upon  it  and  surveyed  its  propor- 
tions, and  compared  them  with  those  of  the 
huge  monster,  which  had  now  nearly  stopped 
as  if  to  gaze,  like  myself,  at  this  strange  appear- 
ing craft,  my  heart  fairly  sank  within  me  from 
despair.  "  How  can  such  a  little  thing  as  that," 
thought  I,  "ever  hope  to  contend  successfully 
with  such  a  gigantic  foe. 

With  apparent  confidence  in  itself,  however, 
it  steamed  directly  toward  the  Merrimac, 
and  when  within  about  100  yards 
opened  fire.  The  report  of  that  gun  rang  out  so 
louil  upon  the  still  air  of  the  morning  as  to 
fairly  -tartle  me.  It  seemed  to  be  the  most 
powerful  nun  I  had  ever  heard  discharged,  and 
my  hopes  rose  accor  lingly. 

In  loss  tb.au  hiteeu  minutes  from  that  time 
the  two  vessels  were  close  alongside  of  each 
other  engaged  in  a  most  terrific  nattle.  As  on 
the  das  previous,  the  smoke  at  times  obstructed 
my  view  of  tiie  contest,  l>ut  as  the  sun  got 
higher  a  gentle  reeze  arose,  and  the  smoke 
bl«w  away  frequently.  As  1  watched  them 
closely  I  could  plainly  observe  the  difference  in 
the  mo  10  and  frequency  of  tiring  of  the  two 
vessels.  It  seemed  as  thousrh  the  Merrimac, 
like  a  great  bully  that  had  previously  ha  I 
everything  its  own  way,  was  stung  by  r.igo  and 
chagrin.  She  fired  rapidly,  buc  wildly— first 
•hot  and  then  shell — while  the  Monitor  fired 
•lowly  and  with  evident  precision.  Soon,  even 
when  the  vessels  were  hidden  by  the  smoke,  I 
could  distinguish  between  the  guns  of  the 
Monitor  and  those  of  the  Merrimac  by  the 
sound  alone. 

Another  thing  I  observed  was  the  dsfference 
in  he  speed  of  the  two  vessels.  The  Monitor 
moved  with  quickness  and  was  rarely  still, 
while  the  Merrimac  was  slow,  very  slow,  some- 
times her  motions  being  almost  imperceptible. 
At  one  moment  the  Monitor  would  be  under 
her  stern,  then  across  her  bows,  going  com- 
pletely around  her,  as  if  to  test  the  invulnera- 
bility of  each  and  every  part  of  her  armor. 

Occasionally  the  two  vessels  would  separate 
and  a  bri  •[  truce  follow,  at  the  close  ot  which 
they  would  again  approach  each  other  and  an- 
other duel,  fiercer  and  more  desperate,  if  possi- 
ble, than  tne  BfUMdilMC  one.  would  ensue. 

At  one  time  during  the  battle  one  of  the  larger 
Confederate  steamers  ventured  to  interfere  on 
the  side  of  the  Merrimac,  but  she  receive  a  shot 
from  the  Monitor  that  apparently  pierced  her 
side  and  caused  her  to  haul  off  out  of  range. 

Once  in  a  while  the  garrison  in  Camp  Butler 
were  disagreeably  reminded  of  what  was  going 
on  by  a  huge  shot  from  one  or  the  other  of  the  ves- 
sels missing  its  mark  and  reaching  the  land.  Sev- 
eral of  these  huge  missiles  went  bounding  over 
the  long  plain,  casting  the  dust  high  into  the 
air  and  plowing  up  the  earth  in  deep,  irregular 
furrows. 

Several  times,  when  the  absence  of  smoke  af- 


forded roe  a  good  view  of  the  Merrimac,  I  no- 
ticed that  her  smokestack  was  badly  riddled, 
and  somewhere  about  10  o'clock  it  disappeared 
altogether  and  the  smoke  from  her  engines 
seemed  to  be  coming  out  all  over  her  deck. 

It  never  occurred  to  me  at  the  time  that  the 
loss  of  her  smokestack  had  crippled  her,  but  in 
i  act,  it  had.  and  we  now  know  from  the  testimony 
of  her  officers  that  it  was  in  consequence  dim- 
cult  for  her  engineers  to  keep  up  steam. 

About  12  o'clock  the  Monitor  hauled  off  a  dis- 
tance of  a  mile  or  more  from  her  antagonist 
and  her  crew  seemed  to  be  at  work  upon  her 
deck  about  her  turret. 

1  feared  something  serious  had  happened  to 
her,  and  my  fears  were  increased  when  I  ob- 
served that  the  Merrimac  had  made  a  sudden 
movement  toward  the  Minnesota,  for  the  tide 
was  now  at  its  height. 

I  knew  well  what  the  fate  of  the  frigate  would 
be  if  the  rebel  ironclad  once  struck  her  with 
her  prow.  The  Minnesota  had  again  opened 
fire,  and  the  Merrimac  was  replying  with  her 
oow  gun.  By  the  time  the  Merrimac  had  fired 
her  third  shot,  the  Monitor  bad  reached  the 
scene  of  action  and  immediately  ran  in  between 
the  two  vessels,  covering  as  far  as  possible  by 
her  turret  the  already  badlv  injured  trig-ate. 

This  movement  of  the  Monitor  caused  the 
Merrimac  to  change  her  position,  in  doing  which 
she  grounded.  Now  there  was  another  scene  of 
terrific  firing. 

Every  available  gun  of  our  two  vessels  was 
brought  to  bear  upon  the  shield  of  the  Merri- 
mac,, and  when  the  smoke  lifted  the  latter  was 
seen  slowly  retreating  toward  Sewall's  Point, 

This  part  of  the  contest  perhaps  lasted  tan 
minutes,  but  it  seemed  to  me  an  hour. 

When  I  was  tairly  convinced  that  the  rebel 
ironclad  was  retreating  I  concluded  that  sha 
had  at  last  been  seriously  damaged  and  that  th* 
Dattle  was  over. 

I  scrutinized  her  carefully  with  my  glao. 
and  she  seemed  to  me  a  veritable  wreck.  On* 
anchor  was  gone,  her  smokestack  and  steam 
pipes  were  shot  away  and  there  appeared  to  be 
a  mass  of  wreckage  hanging  by  her  sides,  bat 
exactly  what  it  was  I  could  not  clearly  mase 
out.  When  the  Merrimac  left  the  Minnesota 
the  Monitor  did  likewise  and  steamed  toward 
Fort  Monroe. 

When  the  latter  had  proceeded  about  three 
miles  on  her  course  I  observed  that  two  of  the 
rebel  steamers  that  had  been  hovering  about 
the  mouth  of  the  Elizabeth  all  the  morning, 
keeping  out  of  range  of  the  Monitor's  guns, 
were  steaming  quite  rapidly  toward  our 
stranded  frigate,  and  in  a  few  minutes  the 
Merrimac  turned  and  ran  in  the  same  direction. 

Suddenly,  as  if  by  some  preconcerted  plan, 
they  all  three  paused  and  headed  toward  Nor- 
folk, and  the  Monitor,  to  the  unspeakable  joy  of 
the  garrison,  started  in  pursuit,  continuing  it 
till  the  rebel  fleet  had  nearly  passed  out  of 
sight  behind  Oranev  Island. 

Then   the   Monitor  was  seen  returning  with 


A    GREAT    NAVAL    BATTLE. 


131 


Che  Stars  and  Stripes  floating  proudly  above 
deck.  She  had  come  oat  of  a  battle  of 
nearly  five  hours'  duration,  victorious,  in 
which  the  naval  supremacy  of  the  great 
powers  of  the  world  was  suddenly  stricken 
down,  and  the  whole  system  of  uaval  archi- 
tecture revolutionized. 

Not  only  this,  but  by  her  achievements  she 
had  relieved  the  Government  from  a  peril  and 
a  menacing  danger,  the  extent  of  which  even 
the  most  sagacious  could  not  estimate.  Some 


of  the  Confederate  writers  have  treated  tote 
contest  as  a  drawn  battle  with  the  advantage 
on  tne  side  of  the  Monitor,  out  it  wan  much 
more  than  this — it  was  a  pronounced  victory  for 
the  latter,  as  is  well  attested  by  the  fact  that 
though  frequent  opportunities  were  afterward 
afforded  the  robel  ironclad  to  again  try  conclu- 
sions with  the  Monitor  she  repeatedly  declined 
them,  and  in  May  following,  whan  the  Federal 
troops  marched  on  Norfolk,  she  was  deliberately 
blown  up  and  sunk  by  her  own  people. 

WM.  H.  OSBORNH. 


FUNNEL  OF  THE  VANQUISHED  MERRIMAC. 


A  BATTLE  CRISIS. 


[Uea.  A.  P.  Martin,  wno  glrea  LUIS  grannie  accoount  of 
the  desperate  fighting  at  Games'*  HU1.  u  the  bead  of  the 
present  well-known  Boston  shoe  firm  o(  Augustus  P. 
Martin  &  Co.  He  bad  been  a  member  01  ibe  old  Boston 
Militia  Artillery  known  as  Cook's  Battery,  tor  seven 
yean  before  tbe  war.  ana  nact  been  an  officer,  oat  re- 
sponded to  Gov  Andrews1  tamous  order  No.  4— upon 
the  firing  on  Fort  Snmter-m  HIP  ranks  of  the  battery  and 
went  to  tbe  front  M  an  enllsten  man— chief  or 
No.  1  gun.  Returning  Irom  me  three  months  campaign 
he  was  commissioned  Sept.  5.  61.  as  First  Lieutenant  of 
Major  Dexter  H.  Pollen'*  old  Third  Massachusetts  Bat- 
tery, succeeding  to  its  command  NOT  28.  1861  He  was 
made  Chief  or  Artillery.  First  Division,  Fifth  Army  Corps, 
by  Gen  Moreii.  and  when  the  artillery  brigade  was 
formed  Gen.  Meade  appointed  Gen  Martin  Chief  of  Ar 
tlilery  for  the  entire  corps  which  position  be  held  »t  Set- 
tytbnrg.  He  was  Mayot  ot  Boston  ID  1884 

"  I  think  that  was  tbe  hardest  contested  battle 
in  my  experience  In  tbe  war-  for  tbe  number  ot 
troops  engaged. " 

The  speaker  was  General  Augustus  P.  Martin. 
the  former  Chief  of  Artillery  of  the  Fifth  Army 
Corpa 

"And  what  battle  was  that.  General?  asked 
the  Journal  reoorier 

"The  battle  of  Gaines's  Mill,  he  replied. 
**We  had  only  about  27.000  men  to  face  and  to 
hold  from  50,000  to  70,000  of  Stonewall  Jack- 
son's men.  who  had  effected  a  junction  with 
the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia. 

"  I've  never  seen  a  less  estimate  than  50.000, 
and  I  have  seen  it  figured  as  high  as  70,000  Con- 
federates, which  I  have  no  doubt  was  nearer  the 
number.  Lee  was  there  and  Jackson  was  relied 
upon  to  effect  a  junction  with  him. 

"  It  was  noi;  a  surprise  at  Games's  Mill,  but  the 
Crossing  at  Mechanicsville  on  tbe  day  before 
did  come  upon  us  as  a  surprise. 

"Our  army  lay  upon  the  Chickahominy. 
which  was  so  badly  swollen  by  recent  rains  as 
to  overflow  the  low  grounds,  rendering  it  well 


nigh  impassable     it  had  been  considered   im 
possible  to  effect  a  crossing. 

'  We  had  been  up  to  Hanover  Court  House  on 
the  27th  of  May  and  it  had  rained  heavily  on 
the  28th.  29th  and  30th  cf  May  submerging  all 
the  bridges,  detaining  us  nearly  a  month. 

But  Jackson  crossed  at  Mecbanicsvtlle  on 
the  26th  of  June  and  drove  our  troops. 

"  Our  corps— Fitz  John  Porter  s— was  hurried 
forward  to  meet  them,  and  they  made  an  attack 
upon  us.  or.  rather  a  series  of  attacks,  at  Gaines's 
MilL 

"  It  was  between  2  and  3  o'clock  in  the  after 
noon,  after  our  troops  were  in  position,  when 
the  fighting  began,  and  it  continued  up  to  5  or 
6  o'clock,  when  there  was  a  lull  for  a  time, 
occasioned  by  their  forming  a  new  line  3'. 
battle. 

"  They  fiercely  attacked  us  with  fresh  troops 
and  broKe  through  our  line  in  several  places. 
Stonewall  Jackson  had  effected  his  junction, 
and  it  was  his  trooos  that  were  in  front  of  us. 
We  were  ordered  to  attack,  were  met  by  fresh 
troops,  and  our  men  were  badly  cut  up.  Our 
left  was  forced  to  retreat 

"  My  own  position  with  the  Third  Massachu- 
setts Battery,  of  which  I  was  in  command,  was 
on  the  right  of  the  line,  supported  on  my  right 
by  a  brigade  of  regulars  under  Gen.  Sykes. 
while  on  our  left  was  the  First  Division  of  the 
Fifth  Army  Corps. 

"Gnmn's  battery  of  regulars  was  also  on  the 
right 

"When  the  Confederates  made  that  attack  I 
have  spoken  of,  they  advanced  on  my  battery 
and  were  going  to  carry  it  with  cold  steel. 

"Jackson  had  declared  that  his  men  would  do 
it  with  the  bayonet 

"  We  were  in  battery  upon  a  slope,  a  little  to 
the  rear  of  a  ridge  which  gave  our  men  cover. 


134 


STORIES    OF    OUR    SOLDIERS. 


Our  guns  were  loaded  with  double-shotted 
canister. 

"  The  Confederates  advanced  in  fine  array,  a 
lou--r  line  of  jrrav.  They  came  on  rapidly,  eager, 
confident,  evidently  assured  that  they  were  to 
sweep  us  trom  the  field,  and  firm  in  their  pur- 
pose to  capture  our  puns,  as  their  leader  had 
said  he  would  do.  with  the  cola  steel 

"  I  have  seen  nothing  like  that  charge  except, 
of  course,  at  Gettysburg. 

"Silently  we  waited  (or  them,  every  man  in 
his  position  at  the  piece.  They  were  within  100 
yards  when  the  command  came,  stern  and  low: 

"  'Fire  by  battery!' 

"  Simultaneously  the  muzzles  of  our  six  Na- 
poleons tiained.  Griffin's  guns  opened  at  the 
same  instant. 

"The  ground  shook  beneath  the  thunderous 
roar. 

"  And  that  gray  line 

"  As  the  cannon  smoke  rolled  away  we  saw  its 
shattered  remnant  sent  staggering  back  to  the 
rear. 

"  1  could  see  great  gaps  where  companies  had 
stood. 

"  It  was  as  though  they  were  mown  down  in 
swaths  as  by  a  mighty  scytha 

"  But  they  rallied  and  came  for  us  again. 

"The  desperation  with  which  that  attack  was 
made  surpassed  anything  I  ever  saw  before  or 
have  seen  since. 

"  They  came,  but  in  single  line  of  battle,  but 
their  advance  more  nearly  resembled  that  of 
Fickett's  division  at  Gettysburg  than  anything 
else. 

"  They  were  a  portion  of  Jackson's  corps,  and 
it  was  stated  at  the  time  that  the  charge  was  led 
by  Jackson  in  person. 

"  The  firing  was  very  effective.  The  Confed- 
erates fell  back  and  reformed  three  times  to  ad- 
vance upon  us. 

"Our  loss  in  that  battle  was  very  heavy.  We 
lost  in  the  Fifth  Army  Corps  one-half  of  the 
men  engaged  in  the  seven  days'  battle. 

"  1  never  saw  better  fighting  on  any  field,  ana 
we  ban  to  meet  a  very  much  larger  force. 

"The  left  of  our  line  ot  troops  was  entirely 
driven  from  the  field,  and  we  on  the  right  were 
ordered  to  limber  up  our  batteries  to  move  to 
the  rear. 

"  We  saved  our  guns,  with  the  exception  of 
•one  piece,  which  we  lost  in  crossing  a  little 
•croek,  but  we  lost  no  cannon  on  the  field. 

"The  attack  upon  and  repulse  from  our  guns, 
.just  at  the  close  of  that  battle,  was  about  as 
spirited  and  heroic  a  thing  as  I  ever  saw.  They 
•came  down  upon  us  and  upon  Griffin's  battery. 
NVe  were  obliged  to  remove  the  pins  from  the 
pintles,  drop  the  trails  of  the  pieces,  and  open 
again  upon  the  advancing  enemy. 

"They  swept  flown  rignt  atop  of  us  with 
fixed  bayonets.  We  were  moving  to  the  rear, 
mind  you,  and  they  were  sharp  after  us.  Our 
ammunition  was  running  low.  and  the  situa- 
tion was  growing  intensely  exciting,  not  to  say 
thrilling. 

"  I  had  a  number  of  spare  sponge  staffs,  and 
so  I  told  my  boys  to  let  those  fly.  vVe  gave 
them  a  volley  of  sponges.  Their  execution  was 
not  as  bloody  as  the  double  shotted  canister. 


but  they  made  up  in  noise  what  they  lacked  In 
other  respects,  and  answered  every  purpose. 

"  Some  of  our  batteries  on  the  left  lost  their 
nieces.  I  think  some  guns  were  taken  from 
Allen's,  afterward  Phillips's  Fifth  Massachu- 
setts, and  some  from  Whedon's  Rhode  Island 
Battery.  I'm  not  sure  that  Battery  B.  Fifth  Ar- 
tillery, lost  any. 

"The  Confederates  turned  these  captured 
•  •  uns  upon  us.  We  were  obliged  to  march  to  the 
left,  and  gained  the  rear  by  the  left  flank,  com- 
ing under  the  direct  fire  of  those  guns  as  we 
passed  out  into  the  open,  upon  the  low  ground. 

"It  was  there  that  Lieutenant  Caleb  £.  C. 
Mortimer  of  Charlestown,  of  my  battery.  w«s 
mortally  wounded,  struck  by  a  minie  bullet 

"  I  remember  that  General  G.  K.  Warren's 
Zouaves  layabout  200  yards  in  front  of  us,  in  a 
deep  cut  We  were  firing  over  their  heads. 

"Our  entire  line  of  battle  extended  perhaps  a 
mile  from  right  to  left  The  Zouaves  were  pur 
immediate  support  They  held  their  position 
during  the  day.  but  were  driven  out  at  the 
close,  when  JacKson  made  his  advance  upon 
my  battery  to  carry  it  with  cold  steel. 

"General  Porter  conducted  the  movements  of 
our  corps  with  very  great  ability  and  very  great 
nerve.  The  Confederates  advanced  to  find  his 
line  ready  for  them. 

"From  my  position  with  the  battery  I  could 
see  them  forming  in  the  woods  seven  or  eight 
hundred  yards  in  our  front.  At  the  same  time 
we  opened  fire,  our  guns  being  loaded  and  fired 
by  battery. 

"I  remember  the  Eighteenth  and  Twenty- 
second  Massachusetts  Regiments  in  the  line  on 
our  left. 

"  I  remember  one  rather  singular  circum- 
stance. An  officer  came  to  me  and  gave  me  an 
order  to  limber  up  my  guns  just  before  that  last 
attack. 

"  1  rather  hesitated  about  obeying  such  an 
order  as  that  at  such  a  time,  as  the  officer  was 
unknown  to  me,  for,  as  I  told  you,  we  bad  re- 
pulsed the  rebels  once  and  they  were  reform- 
ing. The  officer  declared  that  he  came  from 
Gen.  Porter. 

"  I  then  gave  the  order  to  limber  to  the  rear, 
and  it  was  while  limbered  up  that  they  at- 
tacked us  again  with  fixed  bayonets,  when  we 
had  such  a  close  call. 

"  I  asked  Porter  afterward  if  he  had  sent  such 
an  order  to  me.  and  he  said  he  had  not  I  have 
always  supposed  that  the  officer  who  came  to 
me  must  have  been  one  from  the  Confederate 
side  in  our  uniform.  If  so.  he  was  a  bold  chap, 
but  they  did  such  things  at  that  time. 

"  When  that  last  attack  was  made  all  the  sup- 
port my  battery  had  was  from  the  Eleventh 
United  States  Infantry,  regulars,  on  our  right 

"  When  we  were  driven  back  wo  took  a  posi- 
tion a  mile  to  the  rear,  when  French's  and 
Meagher's  Brigades  crossed  the  river  and 
checked  the  advance  of  the  enemy,  giving  us  a 
chance  to  get  our  troops  in  hand. 

"  The  correspondent  of  the  New  York  World, 
writing  from  the  field,  gives  this  glowing  ac- 
count of  that  Confederate  attack  and  the  re- 
pulse of  Jackson's  lines : 

"  'Griffin's  and  Martin's  batteries  did  splendid 


MARTIN'S  BATTERY  AT  GAINS'S  MILL. 


135 


service  in  chucking  the  advance  of  the  enemy, 
pouring  canister  into  their  ranks  with  terrible 
effect  Probably  the  greatest  carnage  of  this 
bloody  day  was  produced  by  the  incessant  dis- 
charges of  double-shotted  canister  from  tbe 
brass  Napoleons  of  Martin's  battery. 

"  *  He  had  taken  up  a  position  in  the  hollow  be- 
tween two  small  hills.  The  enemy  advanced 
from  the  opposite  side  on  the  double-quick,  not 
being  able  to  see  the  battery  until  they  reached 
the  crest  of  the  hill,  within  100 yards  of  it.  when 


artin  opened  on  them,  sweeping  them  from 
the  field  like  chaff  in  the  wind. 

" '  Twice  again  they  formed  and  advanced, 
their  officers  behaving  splendidly,  but  it  was 
useless.  Martin's  tierce  leaden  rain  being  too 
terrible  to  withstand. 

"'The  advance  of  the  fresh  troops  having 
checked  the  enemy,  and  night  coming  on,  the 
conflict  ceased  and  both  parties  quietly  lay  upon 
their  arms.'" 


MARTIN'S    BATTERY    AT    GAINS'S    MILL, 


[Historian  J.  D.  Reed  of  the  famous  Martin's  Battery 
had  written  for  the  Journal  the  following  valuable  article, 
which  contains  reference  to  the  Martin  Battery  at  Guinea's 
Mm,  and  interesting  anecdotes  of  the  old  organization. 

Martin's  battery  participated  in  twenty-three 
of  the  great  oattles  of  the  Potomac  army.  In 
the  first  and  second  battles  the  battery's  posi- 
tion was  very  unsatistactory,  being  placet  at  a 
great  disadvantage.  At  the  third  battle,  at 
Gaines's  Mill,  although  placed  in  a  very  perilous 
position,  it  was  satisfactory  to  the  boys,  as  the 
•  lestructive  discharges  of  canister  from  our  six 
12-oound  Napoleon  guns  for  three  hours  di- 
rectly in  front  of  the  massed  position  in  the 
woods  of  Stonewall  Jacuson's  forces  terribly 
avenged  the  death  of  Lord  anil  Lewis  at  York- 
town.  April  6  the  battery  was  in  position  three 
fourths  of  a  mile  from  and  in  front  of  Fort  Ma- 
gruder,  among  scattering  trees  that  proved  to 
have  been  used  as  targets  bv  the  gunners  in  the 
fort.  Charles  L.  Lord  and  Edward  Lewis  were 
killed.  Their  lives  were  very  closely  connected. 
They  married  sisters  and  lived  in  the  same 
house  in  Charlestown,  Mass.,  airt  they  both 
worked  in  the  same  gristmill,  they  enlisted  in 
the  Third  Battery  at  the  same  time,  were  both 
in  the  same  detachment  Lord  was  No.  1  man 
un  the  sun,  while  Lewis  drove  the  lead  team. 
When  the  battle  opened  Lewis  was  dismounted 
and  standing  a  few  feet  in  the  rear  of  the  gun, 
holding  his  horses  by  the  bridle.  A  shell  from 
the  fort  burst  close  to  him,  one  piece  went 
through  the  neck  of  the  horse  he  rode ;  another 
piece  struck  Lewis  in  his  side,  nearly  cutting 
him  in  two.  Lord  at  that  moment  was  sending 
a  shell  home  in  his  guu. and  cried  out:  'Some 
one  go  and  pick  up  Ned.'  No  one  starting,  Lord 
went,  and  just  as  he  got  to  his  friend  he  was  hit 
much  the  same  as  Lewis  had  been  bv  a  shell, 
and  killed  instantly.  Two  as  good  soldiers  as 
4rer  went  into  tattle  lay  mangle  1  an  i  dead. 
Together  they  were  buried  in  one  grave,  and  af- 
terward were  taken  up  and  brought  home  to- 
gether. 

May  27,  at  the  battle  near  Hanover  Court 
House,  one  section  of  the  battery  under  Lieu- 
tenant Dunn  was  in  position,  with  the  Second 
Maine  on  the  right— the  Forty-fourth  New 
York  on  the  left.  Soon  after  General  Porter, 
with  the  main  bodv  of  his  troops,  had  moved  in 
the  direction  of  the  Court  House,  the  rebels 
threw  a  heavy  force  on  the  rear  guard.  The 
Forty-fourth  was  thrown  into  temporary 
confusion  by  the  unexpected  attack,  and  the 


Battery  men,  left  without  support,  were  forced 
to  retire,  with  a  loss  of  two  men  wounded, 
three  horses  killed  and  two  disabled.  The 
Forty-fourth  soon  rallied,  and  a  detachment  of 
the  Second  Maine,  under  Major  Daniel  Chaplin, 
volunteered  to  assist  Lieutenant  Dunn  in  recov- 
ering his  pieces,  and  the  guns  were  brought  off 
with  the  prolongs.  The  section  was  under  a 
murderous  cross-tire,  but  the  supporting  regi- 
ments replied  with  so  much  spirit  that  the 
guns— to  use  the  words  of  Colonel  Roberta's 
official  report — were  not  polluted  by  rebel 
hands.  Major  Chaplin  was  presented  with  a 
sword,  as  described  by  General  Martin  in  these 
columns. 

The  right  wing  of  the  Potomac  army,  Porter's 
corps,  was  situated  on  the  southeast  siae  of  the 
Chickahominy  swamo  and  stream.  Gen.  Mo 
Clellan  had  taken  the  precaution  to  have  con- 
structed the  Woodbury  bridge.  The  urand  plan 
of  the  enemy,  under  Generals  Davis,  Lee  and 
Jackson,  was  to  throw  a  large  force  against  the 
right  wing  and  force  it  back  beyond  the  bridge, 
thereby  dividing  McClellau's  army,  as  the  only 
other  crossing  of  the  swamp  from  there  to  the 
sea  was  the  frail  structure  10  miles  below,  called 
Bottom  bridge.  In  the  forenoon  of  June  27  Gen. 
Porter  formed  his  advanced  line  of  battle  on  a 
ridge  in  a  cultivated  field  near  a  long  belt  of 
woods,  his  left  resting  on  the  Chickahominy, 
one-quarter  of  a  mile  from  the  coveted  bridge, 
his  right  extending  nearly  two  miles  in  the  di- 
rection of  White  House  Landing. 

The  enemy,  numbering  between  thirty  and 
forty  thousand,  abont  noon  made  a  fierce  at- 
tack. One  plan  of  Gen.  Porter's  was  to  send  the 
Eighteenth  Massachusetts  and  a  part  of  Stone- 
man's  cavalry  out  on  his  right  to  olay  'possum 
with  the  enemy.  The  ruse  worked  well,  as 
thousands  of  them  were  decoyed  several  miles 
towards  the  Wliite  House.  Orders  were  sent  to 
the  landing  for  the  steamers  there  to  be  ready 
to  take  on  board  all  detachments  and  convey 
them  down  York  ttiver. 

For  four  hours  the  roar  of  battle  was  terrific. 
Thirty-eight  cannon  were  captured  by  the 
enemy  on  the  first  line  of  battle,  but  the  con- 
necting link— the  Woodbury  bridge— must  be 
preserved  at  all  hazards.  Martin's  batterv  was 
in  position  on  the  left  centre,  about  140  yards 
from  the  woode  <  belt,  the  guns  on  the  slope  of 
the  ridge  near  the  lop,  in  front  of  the  military 
road  that  had  been  used  to  haul  supplies  from 
the  dispatch  station.  The  enemy,  moving 


136 


STORIES    OF    OUR    SOLDIERS. 


from  the  right  to  the  left,  had  to  cross  the  road 
in  good  canister  range.  Three  lines  advanced 
to  capture  the  battery,  bat  the  canister  stopped 
them.  Near  5  o'clock  in  the  afternopn  our  Hue 
of  battle  was  forced  back.  Captain  Martin 
seeing  he  could  not  retain  his  position  without 
losing  his  guns,  prolonge  was  attached,  and 
they  were  drawn  a  few  yards  down  the  hill, 
tie  ordered  them  double  charged  with  canister. 
Three  guns  had  their  sponge  staffs  left  in  them. 
When  the  order  was  given  to  tire  the  rebels 
were  masse<!  on  top  of  the  hill,  fifty  yards  from 
the  guns.  When  tne  smoke  arose  not  one  could 
be  seen  standing  in  front  of  them.  At 
that  time  two  cases  of  canister  contained 
twelve  hundred  and  one  musket,  bullets.  They 
commence  to  spread  as  soon  as  they  leave 
the  mouth  of  the  gun,  and  make  awful  havoc 
at  short  range.  I  am  very  sure  it  is 
safe  to  say  that  very  few  batteries  in  the  service 
did  more  damage  to  the  enemy  in  any  one  bat- 
tle than  the  Third  Massachusetts  Battery  did 
at  Gaines's  Mill ;  that  discharge  was  very  time 
ly.  It  is  fair  to  assume  if  it  had  been  delayed 
one  minute  the  battery  would  have  received 
a  volley  and  charge  from  that  massed  line. 
Sufficient  time  was  given  for  the  battery  to 
limber  to  tne  rear  and  reach  the  second  line  of 


battle.  Reinforcements  were  sent  over  the 
bridge  to  assist  Gen.  Porter  to  maintain  bis  sec- 
ond line.  Under  cover  of  night  all  that  was 
left  of  the  Fifth  Corps  crossed  over  the  bridge. 
Near  daylight  the  engineers  blew  it  UP. 

In  nearly  every  heavy  battle  some  peculiar 
incidents  occur.  In  this  battle,  as  Adjutant 
Boyer  of  the  Fifty-Seventh  Pennsylvania  was 
riding  to  give  an  order  to  the  regiment  on  his 
right,  a  piece  of  shell  hit  his  horse  on  the  head 
and  neck,  nearly  cutting  oft  the  hpad.  The 
rider,  as  the  horse  fell,  was  thrown  forward  to 
the  ground,  streams  of  blood  following  and 
completely  saturating  the  Adjutant.  Col.  Z.  P. 
Boyer  is  now  a  prominent  civil  engineer  of 
Philadelphia,  and  a  practical  railroad  con- 
structor, identified  with  the  Reading  Railroad. 

In  another  article  the  writer  of  this  can  relate 
some  of  the  trials  in  hauling  rations  and  sup- 
plies from  the  dispatch  station,  through  ten 
mile  of  bog  holes,  to  Gaines's  farm.  The  Ser- 
geant does  not  wish  to  be  understood  to  say 
that  he  has  seen  a  mule  sink  out  of  sight,  but 
with  truth  can  say  he  has  seen  thousands  of 
mules'  legs  out  of  sight  in  the  quasrmire  of 
Chickahominy  swamps.  J.  D.  REED, 

50  Edge  wood  street,  Roxbury. 


THE    FIFTH    CORPS   AT    GAINS'S    MILL. 


1  was  much  interested  by  Gen.  Martin's  article 
on  the  Gaines's  Mill  battle  in  the  Boston  Journal, 
and  at  ouce  dusted  my  old  weather  and  time- 
stained  diary,  written  on  the  spot  so  many 
years  ago,  to  refresh  my  memory 

Thin kint?  these  extracts  from  my  old  diary 
might  interest  some  of  the  survivors  of  the  old 
Filth  Corps  I  copy  them  word  for  word  for 
what  they  are  worth : 

1862. 

June  20— In  camp  until  about  4.30  P.  M.. 
when  we  broke  camp  and  left  with  the  full 
battery  (Fifth  Massachusetts)  and  marched 
about  two  miles  toward  White  House,  then 
countermarched  and  halted  in  a  field  about 
three-quarters  of  a  mile  in  front  of  Dr.  Gaines's 
bouse  Heavy  cannonading  and  sharp  mus- 
ketry toward  Mechanicsville.  from  about  5 
o'clock  P.  iVL  until  dark,  bivouacked  for  the 
night  tn  the  field  with  Butterneld's  brigade; 
teams  bitched  up  all  night,  and  all  the  men 
slept  near  their  pieces,  to  be  ready  at  a  mo- 
ment's warning  Pleasant  day  and  fine  nigat. 
Slept  very  well. 

June  27  Packed  UP  all  our  equipage  and  pre- 
pared to  leave  about  2.30  A.  M.  Were  soon 
ready  and  left,  and  procee  cied  to  the  brow  of  a 
hill  just  in  rear  and  right  of  the  camp  ground 
we  left  yesterday,  to  cover  the  retreat  of  our 
forces,  placed  our  guns  "in  >attery "  and  re- 
mained there  until  all  the  artillery  had  crossed 
the  mill  stream,  and  destroyed  the  bridge. 
Cannonading  and  musketry  commenced  this 
morning  at  daylight  The  enemy's  firing  sounds 
nearer  and  nearer,  and  their  battery  of  32- 
pounders  (across  the  Chickahominy)  threw  sev- 
eral shots  at  us.  but  made  wild  shots. 


Aftpr  the  bridge  was  destroyed  we  "limbered 
UD  "  and  went  about  half  a  mile  farther  to  the 
rear,  and  placed  our  guns  "  in  battery  "  on  the 
brow  of  a  hill  and  changed  our  position  several 
times  on  the  same  ground.  The  enemy  gradu- 
ally advanced  and  drove  In  our  skirmishers  and 
charged  on  our  front,  and  were  at  least  three 
times  repulsed. 

The  infantry  felled  the  trees  in  front  of  us  to 
prevent  the  advance  of  the  enemy's  artillery 
and  cavalry.  Our  infantry  met  and  repulsed 
the  enemy  in  the  woods  in  front  of  us. 

The  batteries  from  the  forts  of  Gen.  Smith's 
division  shelled  the  enemy  vigorously,  and  the 
enemy's  shot  and  shell  struck  all  around  us, 
musk  t balls  whizzing  like  bees  over  and  around 
us,  and  a  spent  ball  hit  my  elbow. 

The  left  section  advanced  and  fired  canister 
Into  the  enemy  when  they  made  cheir  second 
charge  on  our  front  About  6  P-  M.  the  enemy 
again  rallied  and  attacked  us  on  the  front  and 
left  An  awful  battle  ensued.  The  infantry 
checked  them  for  a  while,  and  in  the  meantime 
the  left  and  centre  sections  of  our  battery  took 
a  new  position  at  the  edge  of  the  woods,  behind 
the  infantry,  and  commenced  firing  shrapnel  at 
them  with  one-second  fuse.  At  last  the  infantry 
In  front  of  us  began  to  yield  to  the  enemy's  mur- 
derous fire,  and  a  general  and  most  dis- 
ordered retreat  commenced  We  poured  the 
schrapnel  into  the  enemy  until  they  were 
almost  upon  us,  then  "  limbered  UD 
and  drove  off.  The  enemy  closely  followed 
up  our  retreating  army,  and  kept  up 
a  most  destructive  musketry  fire,  which  made 
great  havoc  with  our  troops ;  horses  and  guns 
were  left  and  the  whole  army  were  panic- 
stricken.  Many  of  oar  horses  were  shot  '25)  and 


(mi    ]  -  ^rV**  S 

wl-^r  I 


ANECDOTES    OF    GENERAL    MARTIN. 


131) 


four  RUDS  loft  on  the  field.  These  the  enemy 
turned  on  us  and  threw  cannist  -r  at  us.  Lieu* 
tenant  Phillips's  horse  was  shot  from  under 
him. 

The  whole  of  the  retreating  army  crossed  a 
bridge  and  tragments  of  the  different  regiments 
ami  batteries  bivouacked  near  McClellan's 
headauarters  on  the  south  aide  of  the  Chick- 
ahominy 

One  of  the  caissons  (Sergeant  Smith's)  broke 
down  cm  the  march  this  morning  and  for  the 
time  being  was  left,  bat  was  after  war  1  lashed 
up  and  taken  across  the  mill  stream  and  placed 
with  the  others. 

All  the  teams  and  caissons  were  ordered 
across  the  Chickahominy  this  morning  and 
were  saved. 

Unhitched  our  remaining  teams  and  were 
ready  to  rest  about  8.30  P  M.  A  hot  day  in 
every  sense  of  the  word. 

Slept  under  the  ambulance  with  Sergeant 
Page  and  rested  quite  comfortably. 

June  28.  A  false  alarm  in  camp  this  morning 
occasioned  by  the  infantry  discharging  their 
cruns  previous  to  cleaning  them. 

Left  camp  about  12.30  P.  M.  with  the  re- 
mains of  our  battery  and  marched  about  eight 
miles  toward  the  James  River;  at  roll  call  this 
morning  our  loss  appears  at  present  to  be  three 


men  killed.  Corporal   Milliken.  C.   M.    Barnard 
and  E.  F.  Gustine. 

Milliken  and  E.  F.  (Justine  killed.  Barnard 
wounded  but  afterward  died. 

William  Ray.  seriously  wounded :  John  Agen. 
slightly.  Richard  Hayes  ami  Edward  Smith  mis- 
sing. Wounded  soldiers  taken  to  Savage's  Sta- 
tion this  morning  en  route  for  the  White 
House. 

We  lost  (our  guns  and  twenty-five  horses ;  all 
the  caissons  saved.  A  heavy  rain  in  the  night 
Another  alarm  this  night  caused  by  some  loose 
horses  running  into  camp,  and  bugles  were 
blown  and  the  infantry  ordered  into  line  and 
some  of  the  battery  horses  hitched  up  to  repulse 
the  supposed  guerrillas;  it  proved  false  and  soon 
all  was  quiet  again.  Slept  very  soundly. 

Martin's  Third  Massachusetts  Battery  lost  two 
or  three  men  and  one  piece.  Wheaton's  Fourth 
Rhode  Island  Battery  lost  several  men  and 
pieces. 

Thus  closes  my  record  of  those  three  eventful 
days  of  "  the  seven  days'  battles." 

By  the  Adjutant  General's  report  the  Fifth 
Massachusetts  Battery  took  part  in  eighteen 
engagements,  lost  nineteen  men  killed,  thirty 
two  wounded 

f  E.  CHASE. 

Dorchester. 


ANECDOTES  OF  GENERAL  MARTIN. 


1  feel  very  much  obliged  to  General  Martin 
lor  remembering  so  pleasantly  the  Second 
Maine  Regiment  in  the  first  battle  it  took  part 
in,  where  we  had  the  pleasure  of  sleeping  on 
the  battlefield,  and  the  sad  duty  to  perform  the 
next  day  of  burying  the  dead ,  having  com- 
menced with  the  first  Boll  Kun,  the  regiment 
knew  all  about  the  other  side  of  the  story  What 
I  desire  to  say  is  this:  I  would  like  to  ask  Gen 
eral  Martin  if  he  remembers  a  little  Inci- 
dent that  took  place  the  day  on  which 
the  army  arrived  in  front  of  Yorktown.  When 
the  Second  Maine  Regiment  arrived  where  we 
could  see  what  was  going  on,  we  found  Martin's 
Battery  in  position  firing  on  a  rebel  earthwork 
just  across  a  field  in  the  edge  of  the  timber. 
Our  regiment  was  Justin  the  skirt  of  the  timber 
on  our  side  of  the  field,  but  the  batterv  was  out 
in  the  open  field  The  firing  from  the  fort  and 
Martin's  Battery  was  going  on  Quite  briskly. 
My  recollection  of  Capt  Martin  on  that  day,  or 
any  other  day  of  the  war  time,  I  can  never  make 
tally  with  the  now  dignified  ex-Mayor. 

That  day  he  was  riding  about   his  guns  with 


the  most  happy  expression  on  his  face  imagina- 
ble. The  blonde  moustache  of  those 
days,  with  its  long  ends.  never 
looked  fierce.  but  he  always  looked 
as  though  he  had  just  heard  something  that 
pleased  him  mightily  While  we  were  getting 
into  line  of  battle  to  support  the  battery  and  as 
we  supposed  to  charge  on  that  particular  earth- 
work whenever  things  were  ready,  a  band  of 
music  appeared  on  the  top  of  the  rebel  earthwork 
and  began  to  play  "Dixie."  It  sounded  finely. 
Captain  Martin  rode  UP  to  one  of  his  guns,  dis- 
mounted and  sighted  the  gun.  Ihe  shell 
dropped  right  among  the  players .  the  music 
stopped  instantly.  When  the  dust  and  smoKe 
cleared  away  there  was  no  band  in  sight  and  we 
had  no  more  music  that  day.  and  then  and  there 
the  siege  of  Yorktown  commenced.  We  did  not 
charge,  but  went  to  work  in  due  time  with  oar 
picks  and  shovels. 

E.  L.  STIRLING  .Arlington.  Mass.. 
Second  Lieutenant  Company  E,  Second  Regi- 
ment. Maine  Volunteers. 


ANTIETAM, 


[Capt.  John  P.  Reynolds  of  Salem,  who  contributes  the 
following  article,  and  who  also  furnished  the  Journal 
with  an  Interesting  article  on  Ball's  Bluff  and  Thanks- 
giving reminiscences  at  Camp  Benton,  originally  served 
in  the  Salem  Zouaves,  Capt.  A.  F.  Devereux,  dating  the 
first  three  months'  campaign.  He  was  one  of  five  drill 
masters  to  the  Nineteen ih  Massachusetts  Regiment  at 
Lynnfleld,  and  was  mustered  In  as  Second  Lieutenant, 
promoted  to  First  Lieutenant,  Adjutant  and  Captain, 
and  was  twice  severely  wounded  in  the  battle 
of  Antietam.  He  was  subsequently  commissioned  by 
President  Abraham  Lincoln  as  Captain  In  the  Veteran 
Reserve  Corps,  and  was  in  command  of  the  post  of  New 
Albany,  Ind.,  during  the  troublous  times  with  the  "  Peace 
organizations "  and  "  Sons  of  Liberty,"  which  so  dis- 
turbed that  State  during  Gen.  A.  P.  Hovey's  administra- 
tion of  the  District  of  Indiana,  Northern  Department, 
commanded  by  (len.  Joseph  Hooker  In  1864-5. 

Capt.  Reynolds  is  also  the  founder  of  the  system  of  ex- 
pressing the  military  record  of  officers,  soldiers  and  sailors 
upon  the  Army  Regulation  principle,  which  he  established 
In  1868.] 

Carleton's  graphic  account  of  the  battle  of 
Antietam  recalls  to  the  mind  of  the  writer  many 
vivid  recollections  of  that  historic  event  When 
it  was  known  that  Lee  had  crossed  the  Potomac, 
the  excitement  was  intense.  His  audacity  was 
inspiring,  and  the  army  was  rapidly  out  in  mo- 
tion to  intercept  him.  It  was  an  exhilarat- 
ing change  from  the  disastrous  campaign 
of  the  Peninsula  with  its  Chickahominy  death 
swamp,  its  fruitless  efforts,  ending  in  "The 
Seven  Day's  Battles,"  and  "change  of  base." 
We  had  met  and  fought  the  enemy  at  the  second 
Ball  Ran  and  Chautilly,  during  the  latter  of 


which  I  served  on  the  staff  of  Colonel  Hincks. 
temporarily  commanding  the  brigade,  and  we 
were  now  after  the  Confederates  on  our  own 
soil.  The  situation  had  materially  change  \ 
and  the  recall  of  McClellan  once  more  to  the 
command  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  follow- 
ing Pope's  defeat  at  its  head,  contributed  a 
healthy  enthusiasm. 

Passing  through  the  beantiful  town  of  Fred- 
erick, which  Whittier  has  since  immortalized 
with  the  heroism  of  "Barbara  Frietchie,"  we 
halted  for  a  lime,  drawn  up  in  "close  column 
by  division,"  while  an  order  was  published  (i. 
e.,  read  by  the  Adjutant  of  our  regiment), 
against  foraging.  While  listen  ing  to  tne  order. 
I  espied  my  own  colored  *  boy,  Haury, 
stalking  triumphantly  across  a  field  to- 
ward us  with  an  earthern  pot  of 
butter  under  each  arm.  fresn  from  the  spring 
house  or  dairy.  The  effort  to  beckon  him  out  of 
the  way  and  evade  our  superior  officers,  wnile 
our  mouths  watered  to  spread  it  on  our  hard- 
tacks, was  comical  but  strategic.  Continuing 
our  rapid  march,  we  arrived  in  the  vicinity  of 
South  Mountain  at  nightfall  of  the  14th.  All 
the  afternoon  we  had  heard  Hooker's  guns,  and 
we  now  could  see  their  flashes  high  up  on  the 
mountain  side,  but  could  hear  no  reports.  It  was 
a  veritable  pyrotechnic  display.  We  bivouacked 
at  the  base  of  the  mountain,  and  before  "turn- 
ing in."  I  sent  Henry  off  again  with  60  cents 
and  two  canteens  to  get  something  to  eat  He 
was  most  reliable  on  such  trips,  and  had 


U2' 


STORIES    OF    OUR   SOLDIEHS. 


acquired  an  enviable  reputation  in  the  regi- 
ment. He  shortly  returned  with  a  loaf  of 
bread  under  each  arm.  a  canteen  of  milk  over 
each  shoulder,  a  tin  pan  of  flour  on  his  head,  an 
earthen  jug  of  peach  preserves  on  too  of  that, 
and  the  60  cents  I  sent  him  with. 

The  next  day  we  crossed  the  mountain.  Evi- 
dences of  the  previous  day's  tight  were  visible 
on  every  hand.  The  Confederate  dead  lay 
mixed  with  our  own.  Under  a  fence  by  the 
wayside  I  was  attracted  by  the  soles  of  some 
shoes,  too  small  for  men's  feet,  sticking  straight 
up  in  the  air.  six  in  a  row.  As  I  got  nearer  I 
noticed  they  were  Confederate  bodies,  placed 
side  by  si  le  for  burial,  but  evidently  hastily 
left  behind.  Their  bare  ankles,  dirty  and  sallow, 
showed  below  the  blanket  which  covered  their 
heads  and  which  curiosity  prompted  me  to  lift 
A  momentary  glance  satisfied.  Three  young, 
oeardless  laces,  ghastly  in  death,  with  turee 
pairs  of  glassy  eyes,  caused  a  shudder,  and  I  was 
gla<i  enough  to  replace  it.  These  boys  of  a 
school  age,  apparently,  had  been  sacrificed  for 
the  Confederacy  but  a  few  hours  before.  We 
toiled  UR  the  mountain  side,  arriving  at  the 
summit  under  a  brilliant  noon-day  sun.  passed 
the  Mountain  House  and  turned  down  the  road 
to  descend.  The  grandeur  ot  Pleasant  Val- 
ley burst  upon  us.  Heated,  tired  and 
thirsty,  the  magnificent  view  exerted  a 
potent  influence  on  our  spirits,  and  the  onward 
march  was  productive  of  many  exclamations  of 
delight  The  next  day.  the  16th,  was  a  quiet 
one  with  us,  with  nothing  to  break  the  monot- 
ony out  an  occasional  reminder  that  we  were 
waiting  orders  in  close  proximity  to  the  enemy, 
and  simply  had  to  dodge  his  shells.  We  were 
comparatively  safe  behind  the  ridge,  but  he 
stirred  us  up  now  and  then  with  a  stray  visitor, 
which  seemed  to  say,  **  Are  you  there?" 

The  next  morning  our  turn  came.  Hooker 
and  Mansfield  had  engaged  the  enemy  with 
their  gallant  First  and  Twelfth  Army  Corps, 
respectively,  and  now  Sumner  of  the  Second 
was  to  be  "put  in."  The  corps  was 
in  splendid  condition  and  sprang  quickly 
to  its  work.  Coming  down  the  slope, 
our  regiment,  the  Nineteenth  Massa- 
chusetts, passed  through  a  barn  yard,  by  straw 
or  hay  stacks,  waded  the  creek,  and  moved 
steaduy  on  for  a  mile.  SedgwicK's  Division  was 
composed  of  Gorman's,  Dana's  and  Burns's  Bri- 
gades, entered  the  fight  at  about  9  o'clock 
in  the  morning,  advancing  in  three  brigade 
lines  about  40  paces  apart  through  the  historic 
cornfield,  wnich  was  strewn  thick  with  the 
enemy's  dead,  their  lines  having  been  pressed 
back  by  the  fight  of  the  earlier  morning. 
During  this  advance  1  tumbled  over  a  dead  Con- 
federate Color  Sergeant,  stopped  momentarily 
to  snatch  the  "cross  jack"  or  "saltier"  from 
his  staff,  wobbled  it  up  and  tossed  it  to  the 
Colonel's  orderly  as  a  trophy,  and  hurried  on. 
I  have  never  seen  it  cince,  but  have  often  won- 
dered what  became  of  it. 

Our  lines  pressed  steadily  forward,  when  sud- 
denly fire  opened  on  us.  Shot  and  shell  tore 
through  our  ranks  with  the  roll  of  musketry, 
while  the  orders  rang  out,  "Fprward,  men." 
"Close  up."  &c.  1  was  at  this  time  First  lieu- 
tenant of  Company  G.  Capt.  H.  G.  O-  Weymonth. 


the  color  company  of  the  regiment.  In  leas  time 
than  I  can  write  it  a  half  dozen  or  more  men  on 
the  left  flank  (colors)  were  hors  de  combat, 
killed  or  wounded.  I  shall  never  forget 
the  sound  of  the  bullets  as  they  struck 
our  men:  a  singing  "whish,"  followed  in- 
stantly by  a  sharp  crack,  as  if  clapping  the 
hands.  Still  the  lines  swept  on  until  orders 
were  given  for  the  men  to  "lie  down."  No 
force  could  stand  the  withering  fire  from 
"Stuart's  unseen  guns"  on  the  ridge  in  the 
front.  The  First  Minnesota,  a  sterling  regi- 
ment, was  in  the  first  brigade  line,  and  the 
Nineteenth  Massachusetts  was  in  the  second, 
directly  in  their  rear,  the  two  brigades'  right 
flanks  cominsr  together,  their  left  flanks  being 
wider  separated,  more  like  the  letter  V.  caused 
probably  by  the  difficulty  of  preserving  exact 
distances  under  such  circumstances,  though 
the  rebel  commander  in  his  report  says  that  this 
division  came  on  "advancing  as  if  on  parade." 

The  first  line  was  badly  broken  UP.  and  the 
order  was  given  to  change  front  Just  before 
this  Capcain  Henry  A.  Hale  received  a  bullet  in 
the  mouth  which  nipped  off  the  end  01  his 
tongue  and  carried  away  several  teeth. 
During  this  movement  over  a  plowed  field 
I  received  the  Confederate  compliments  in 
the  left  ankle  joint,  and  cutting  a  pigeon 
wing  hobbled  a  short  distance  to  the  rear.  Mis- 
taking a  numbness  of  the  le?  for  a  slight 
wound,  I  returned  to  duty  in  the  line,  and 
shortly  received  another  thud  from  a  shell  in 
the  right  elbow,  smashing  the  joint  and 
causing  me  to  drop  my  sword.  I  wonder 
If  it  was  ever  recovered.  This  is  all 
that  I  remember  until  later  in  the  day.  when 
our  Drum  Major,  Stephen  L  Newman,  so  often 
seen  in  later  years  at  the  head  of  Baldwin's 
Boston  Ca  let  Ban<1,  was  feeding  me  with  SOUP 
from  a  dipper.  The  operating  table  was  close 
bv,  and  the  Surgeons  were  busy  at  work.  Many 
were  waiting  their  turn  for  amputation,  and 
others  were  "fixing  up."  but  the  former  I  was 
fortunate  enough  to  escape. 

The  loss  in  tx>th  officers  and  men  was  verv 
severe  in  the  Nineteenth  Regiment,  as  it  was  in 
many  others  that  terrible  day.  CoL  Hlncks  was 
wounded  through  the  right  arm  and  body.  At 
the  time  his  wounds  were  considered  mortal, 
and  his  published  obituary  entertained  him 
later.  Lieutenant  Colonel  Devereux  was  also 
wounded.  Capt  Qeo.  W.  Batchelder  re- 
ceived a  shell  wound  which  nearly 
wrenched  his  leg  off  and  he  fell  into  the  Con- 
federates' hands  as  our  line  was  pressed  back. 
When  the  ground  was  reoccupied  by  the  des- 
perate changes  of  fortune  he  was  recovered,  but 
was  so  weak  from  the  loss  of  I'lood  that  his 
life  soon  went  out  By  a  strange  fatality, 
his  body  arrived  home  simultaneously 
with  that  of  his  only  brother.  Lieut 
Charles  J.  Batchelder  of  the  Third  Massachu- 
setts Cavalry,  who  died  in  Louisiana,  and  both 
were  buried  from  their  father's  home  in  Lynn 
the  same  day.  Both  had  served  in  the  Salem 
Zouaves,  now  Company  H,  Eighth  Regiment 
M.  V.  M.,  during  the  three  months'  cam- 
paign, and  both  gave  their  lives  to  their 
country,  on  widely  distant  fields,  but  the  mem- 
ory of  the  Batchelder  boys  will  never  dia 


NINETEENTH    AT    ANTIETAM. 


145 


Lieutenant  Albert  Thorndike  received  a  wound 
through  the  abdomen,  the  ball  entering  at  one 
Test  pocket  and  passing  oat  at  the  other.  The 
ball  struck  his  watch  chain,  and  the  chain  in 
turn  split  the  ball,  so  that  only  one-half  of  it 
entered  the  body.  But  it  carried  into  the 
wound  a  piece  of  the  chain,  which  worked  out 
at  the  farthest  orifice — during:  tne  process  ol  sup- 
peration. 

A  day  or  two  after  the  battle,  while  lying  on 
the  door  of  a  building  in  Koedysville,  used  as  a 
temporary  hospital,  a  stranger  entered  with  an 
anxious  look,  accompanied  by  an  officer,  who 
baa  on  a  red  cap  and  was  understood  at  that 
time  to  be  a  member  of  Gen.  McClellan's  staff. 
The  officer  inquired  if  Capt  Holmes  of  the 
Twentieth  Massachusetts  was  in  that  room. 
The  Captain  (now  Associate  .lustice  Holmes.  Su- 
preme Judicial  Court)  had  been  wounded  in  the 
neck.  No  one  answered  the  question,  until  I 
turned  partially  over,  and  shouted  that  I 
thought  Capt.  Holmes  had  been  moved  into  the 
next  building.  The  stranger  was  gone  in  an  in- 
stant Shortly  after  this  there  appeared  in  the 
Atlantic  Monthly  the  interesting  story  from  the 
pen  of  Dr.  Oliver  Wendell  Holmes,  entitled 
"Howl  found  the  Captain,"  with  its  quaint 
colloquy.  "How  are  you,  Cap?"  "How  are  you. 
Dad?  and  I  then  learned  for  the  first  time  who 
the  stranger  was. 

Capt  Edmund  Rice  and  Lieut.  Elisha  A. 
llmoks  were  also  wounded  in  this  battle.  Capt 
Rice  subsequently  commanded  the  regiment  in 
later  campaigns,  and  is  at  present  a  Captain  in 
the  Fifth  Infantry,  U.  S.  A.,  and  In  charge  of 
the  Columbia  Guard  at  the  World's  Fair  at 
Chicago.  Many  gallant  men  of  the  regiment 
were  either  killed  or  wounded,  among  the  lat- 
ter Sergeant  Wm.  A  McGinnis,  who  with  such 
fortitude  had  the  ball  cut  from  his  shoulder 
•without  the  aid  of  anesthetics,  as  narrated  in 


his  interesting  reminiscences  to  the  Journal  a 
short  time  since. 

It  has  been  truly  said  that  the  battle  of 
Autietam  was  one  ot  the  severest  battles  of  the 
war.  but  it  has  been  overshadowed  and  parti- 
ally lost  sight  of,  as  many  other  sanguinary 
fights  have,  by  the  greater  battle  of  Gettys- 
burg, which  in  later  years  come  very  near 
focusing  the  war  in  itselt  So  far  as  the  general 
public  is  concerned,  severe  as  Antietam 
was  in  losses  to  both  the  Union  and 
Confederate  forces,  it  will  always  be  ex- 
posed to  unfavorable  comment  on  the  Union 
side.  At  no  time  does  the  engagement  appear 
to  have  become  "general,"  but  disjointed 
masses  entered  the  fight  with  a  gallantry  unsur- 
passed. They  were  unsupported  and  enfiladed 
and  driven  out  as  the  rebel  commanders,  with 
characteristic  sagacity,  discovered  the  "  holes" 
In  our  lines  and  crammed  them  full  of  their 
best  battalions. 

The  engagement  of  seda wick's  Division  was 
a  battle  in  itself.  They  advanced  nearly  paral- 
lel to  the  Confederate  line  until  they  found 
themselves  in  acul  de  sac.  under  the  fire  of  ten 
rebel  brigades  who  were  "rapidly  working 
round  their  flank  and  rear."  'Hie  Union  troops 
were  obliged  to  lie  down  and  finally  to  get  oat 
altogether  to  escape  capture  or  annihilation. 
Still  success  perched  upon  the  Union  arms,  and 
the  Confederate  leader  was  foiled  in  his  attempt 
to  transfer  the  scene  of  conflict  and  arouse  the 
State  of  Maryland  in  behalf  of  the  Confederacy. 
It  is  true  he  was  allowed  to  get  away  instead  of 
being  driven  into  the  Potomac,  but  he  was  se- 
verely punished  and  his  scheme  failed.  But  it 
was  another  day  for  laurels  to  the  Second  Army 
Corps,  whose  honors  continued  to  pile  up  as  the 
war  went  on,  and  whose  historian  has  truly  said 
of  it:  "  Up  to  May.  1864.  it  had  never  lost  a  color 
oraanin."  JOHN  P.  REYNOLDS. 


INTO  THE  JAWS  OF  DEATH. 


»lr.  W,  H.  Spiller  ot  North  Cambridge  was  a  member 
•f  Company  C,  Thirteenth  New  Hampshire  Volunteers. 
lie  was  one  of  the  very  few  men  of  tne  Thirteenth  New 
Ham  pblitre  Keglment  who  went  with  Gen.  Ord'g  '  Flying 
Troopo '  gent  to  head  off  Uen.  Lee  In  the  Appomattox 
Valley  He  saw  the  surrender  and  then  went  to  lUob 
mood  where  he  took  up  his  quarters  In  Jefi  Davts's 
bouse  and  slept  on  a  mattress  "  for  tho  first  time  In  three 
years,  he  tells  his  auditors,  He  was  appointed  by  Col. 
•trvens  left  general  guide  of  the  regiment,  and  was 
one  of  the  two  best  drilled  men  In  the  body 

The  articles  published  in  the  Century  Masra 
rine— the  deaths  of  Generals  Grant.  McClellan 
and  Hancock,  and  the  general  revival  of  inter- 
est in  everything  connected  with  the  Rebellion, 
awakene  !  many  old  memories  that  slumbered 
in  my  mind  for  over  thirty  years  It  seems 
queer  to  me  now  to  think  1  should  keep  out  of 
the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic  for  twenty 
Tears,  and  then  join  it  with  as  much  enthusiasm 
as  I  would  have  felt  at  the  end  of  the  war,  but 
so  it  is.  and  I  think  I  feel  more  interested  in  the 
G.  A.  R,  now  than  I  should  have  felt  twenty 
years  ago.  for  then  I  was  tired  and  sick  of  war 
and  soldiering  but  the  cycle  cf  time  has 
brought  the  old  martial  spirit  around  again 
and  I  feel  impressed  to  record  my  memories 

These  remembrances  of  long  ago  are  very  dear 
to  mo.  I  would  not  exchange  the  fact  of  my 
having  been  a  soldier  in  the  Union  army  for 
the  crown  and  sceptre  of  a  Ring  •  it  Is  the  proud- 
est memory  of  my  life,  and  fully  repays  me  for 
all  I  was  deprived  of  and  suffered  to  acquire  it. 
it  is  a  pension  that  will  not  end  with  my  life,  but 
will  be  the  proud  heritage  of  my  son. 

The  tidal  wave  of  patriotism  which,  in  1862. 
swept  300,000  more  brave  Northern  hearts  beat- 
ing over  the  breakwaters  of  South  Mountain 
and  Antietam.  to  be  stopped  nnallv  bv  the  im- 


pregnaoie  heights  of  Fredencksburg,  took  me 
along  with  it  Not  being  of  age,  I  obtained  my 
father's  consent  by  threatening  to  go  without  it. 
I  enlisted  in  the  Tnirteenth  New  Hampshire 
Volunteers,  and  went  Into  camp  at  Concord  for 
a  few  weeks. 

A  sister's  tears  and  my  father's  "God  bless 
you,  my  son,"  are  fresh  in  my  recollections  of 
the  last  day  in  camp  We  left  Concord  Oct.  6. 

We  received  the  usual  ovation  and  many 
favors,  in  hand-shakes  and  kisses  from  the 
young  ladies  as  we  passed  through  Philadel- 
phia. Orders  for  Jeff  Davis's  head  were  numer- 
ous, and  promises  to  bring  it  back  ditto. 


i  recollect  that  some  of  us  were  very  indig- 
nant because  we  had  to  ride  in  cattle  instead  of 
palace  cars.  We  marchel  from  Washington 
over  the  Long  Bridge  to  Arlington  Heights.  And 
such  a  march— the  dust  as  fine  and  dry  as  pow- 
der ami  about  three  inches  deep,  rising  at  every 
step  from  five  to  ten  feet  above  our  heads  and 
nearly  smothering  us,  but  we  got  used  to  Vir- 
ginia dust,  as  well  as  mud,  before  many  months 
Here  we  went  into  camp,  near  Fort  Albany. 
We  spent  some  time  at  Arlington  drilling,  etc. 
It  was  here  that  1  first  heard  that  phrase  (which 
became  stereotyped)  "  Going  out  to  fignt  mit 
Sigel."  from  the  sturdy  Pennsylvania  Dutch- 
men on  their  way  to  the  front.  From  Arlington 
Heights  we  moved  down  to  Fairfax  Seminary, 
opposite  Alexandria,  and  from  there  we  began 
our  first  lessons  in  picket  duty.  I  well  remem- 
ber my  first  night  on  picket  for  various  reasons. 
The  situation  was  a  novel  one.  as  all  first  expe- 
riences are. 

I  remember   that  on  that  first  night  on   the 


INTO   THE    JAWS    OF    DEATH. 


149 


picket  line  1  fell  as  if  the  safety  of 
the  whole  country  depended  on  my  vigi- 
lance,  and  my  eyes  and  ears  were 
•trained  to  their  utmost.  The  swaying  of  a 
limb,  or  the  crackling  of  a  twig,  would  bring  my 
rifle  to  a  ready  in  a  twinkling:,  and  set  my  heart 
to  beating  a  lively  tattoo  against  my  ribs.  Then 
again,  on  this  fir -t  ni-cht.  1  c.ime  within  a  hair's 
breadtn  of  shooting;  one  of  my  officers.  It  hap- 
pened this  way :  \\  e  were  posted  in  the  woods, 
about  160  yards  apart,  with  instructions  to  walk 
our  beats  one  way  until  we  met  the  next  picket, 
challenge  aim.  get  the  countersign,  then  bacis 
until  we  met  the  one  at  the  other  end  of  the 
beat,  challenging  each  time  we  met,  and  to 
•hoot  any  one  attempting  to  pass  without  the 
countersign.  1  had  neen  UP  an  1  down  my  beat 
for  over  an  hour,  and  had  learned  the  location 
of  every  tree  and  bush  near  it,  and  everything 
had  gone  all  right,  but  this  time  as  I  approached 
the  spot  where  1  usually  met  my  comrade  to  the 
right  of  me,  things  didn't  look  just  right,  for 
where  there  should  have  been  but  one  object,  I 
saw  two  (the  night  was  dark,  and  being  in  the 
woods  made  it  worse).  Five  yards  away  you 
coul  in't  tell  a  man  from  a  bush. 

1  halted,  took  a  good  look  at  the  objects  be- 
fore me,  which  seemed  to  be  a  man  standing 
with  another  man.  or  large  black  dog,  I  couldn't 
tell  which,  crouching  beside  him. 

I  challenged,  but  got  no  reply— challenged 
again  with  the  same  result.  By  this  time  I  had 
become  thoroughly  frightened,  and  the  thought 
flashed  through  my  mind  the  rebels  had  capt- 
ured the  post  and  were  about  to  gobble  me  up. 
Just  as  1  was  challenging  for  the  third  time  the 
crouching  figure  arose  and  took  one  step  for- 
ward, and  aa  it  was  a  man.  fully  confirming  my 
fears  as  quick  as  a  flash  my  Springfield  came 
to  my  shoulder  at  a  full  cock,  aime  i  point  blank 
at  his  breast  and  my  finger  pressing  the  trigger 
when  with  a  voice  trembling  with  fear  he  cried 
out,  "For  God's  sake  don't  shootl  I  am  the 
Officer  of  the  Day.  * 

And  such  he  proved  to  be,  on  his  rounds  to 
§eo  that  the  pickets  were  awake  and  vigilant 
He  found  them  so  much  so  that  he  went  no 
farther  that  night,  i>ut  returned  to  camp  con- 
sideranly  wiser  than  he  came  out,  for  he  had 
learned  from  that  great  teacher,  experience, 
never  to  fool  with  a  picket  in  the  night  time, 
and  also  that  ev«n  the  Officer  of  the  Day  must 
give  the  countersign  when  challenged.  As  we 
stoo  I  there  lacing  each  other  and  trembling 
with  excitement,  I  suppose  no  two  more  fright- 
ened persons  ever  existed,  he  for  his  life  and  I 
from  the  double  fear  of  capture  and  having  so 
nearly  shot  him.  The  only  thing  that  saved 
him  was  mv  rifle  being  new.  The  trigger 
worked  hard. 

1  found  out  next  day  that  my  fear  of  capture 
was  entirely  groundless,  for  the  rebels  were  16 
or  20  miles  away,  and  the  Army  of  the  Potomac 
between  them  and  us.  We  were  all  pretty 
green  then,  officers  as  well  as  men,  but  we  were 
learning  lessons  that  made  us  good  soldiers 
afterward.  While  here  or  at  Arlington— I  for- 
get  which— we  occupied  large  Sibley  tents,  and 
eighteen  or  twenty  ot  as  in  a  tent  I  well  re- 


member how  we  used  to  "raise  Ned  "  at  night 

A  jollier  set  than  filled  our  tent  nights  could 
not  be  found,  and  long  after  taps  a  wilder  burst 
of  merriment  than  usual  would  bring  the  guard 
down  our  street  on  the  double  quick,  only  to 
find  everything  quiet,  except  the  nard  wreathing 
and  fearful  snoring  in  our  tent,  \\e  had  one 
comrade,  by  the  name  of  Lamper.  who  was  a 
notorious  snorer.  and  he  got  kicks,  cuffs  and 
curses  by  the  score  every  night.  Well, 
one  night  long  after  taps,  every  one  had 
simmered  down  (how  easily  this  old  slang  comes 
back  with  the  other  memories),  we  had  all  be- 
come quiet  and  were  trying  to  go  to  sleep, 
when  Lamper  set  in  with  his  double-breasted 
snore,  with  whistle  attachment  "Shut  up.  you 
fool,"  "Give  that  calf  more  rope"  and  other, 
some  more  profane  than  oolite,  sentences  were 
hurled  at  him  with  as  little  effect  as  a  flv  would 
nave  on  a  mule  Nudges  from  elbows  and 
poses  from  hands  would  only  vary  the  inflic- 
tion by  making  it  spasmodic  and  irregular. 

Finally  Wes  Carter  (the  Diggest  rogue  we  had 
in  the  company)  saiu  .  "  Leave  him  to  me,  boys. 
I'll  fix  him  lor  to-night,  sure,"  and  taking  his 
rubber  .rinking  tube  (such  as  we  all  had  when 
we  first  went  soldiering),  he  went  to  the  water 
bucket  filled  his  mouth  full,  then  crawled 
over  near  Lamper,  and  taking  one  end  of 
the  tube  in  his  mouth,  put  the  other  end  to 
Lumper's  mouth,  which  was  wide  open,  and  let 
drive.  You  can  imagine  the  equal.  Lamper. 
wild  with  rage,  said.  "The  one  wno  did  that 
had  better  prepare  to  diet"  and,  hearing  a 
snicker  from  the  opposite  side  of  the  tent, 
grabbed  one  of  his  boots  from  back  of  his  head 
an  .  let  drive,  hitting  Bob  Flanders  in  the  face 
and  nearly  dislocating  his  jaw.  Bob  was  a 
fighter,  and  went  for  Lamper,  but,  hearing  the 
guard  coming,  be  was  pu.led  back  and  down  by 
those  near  him.  and  by  the  time  the  guard 
reached  our  street  all  had  become  serene  again. 
11  Lamper  snored  again  that  night  he  waited 
until  ail  the  rest  had  gone  to  sleep. 

From  Alexandria.  December  i,  we  marched 
back  over  Long  Bridge  and  down  the  Maryland 
side  of  the  Potomac  to  opposite  Acquia  Creek. 
This  march  was  the  first  one  of  any  length  that 
we  had  made,  and  it  comes  back  to  me  quite 
vividly.  Here  we  first  began  to  rough  it — used 
shelter  tents,  got  our  own  wood,  uuiit  little 
fires,  cooked  our  coffee,  broiled  our  slice  of  uork 
on  a  slick  over  the  smoky  fire  and  lived  from 
our  haversacks  instead  ot  the  cook  house. 
Didn't  we  make  the  rail  fences  look  sick,  though. 

Our  brigade  left  camp  at  Fairfax  Seminary  in 
a  drizzling  rain  an  .  eucampea  the  first  night  a 
little  beiow  Washington  city.  For  several  days 
after  this  the  weather  was  pleasant  and  we  en- 
joyed the  march  very  much,  for  it  was  a  change 
from  camp  life,  ot  whicn  we  were  becoming 
tired,  and  it  seemed  more  in  the  line  of  soldier- 
ing. 

We  moved  along  leisurely,  over  easy  roads— 
to  a*— a  new  country  which,  in  comparison 


150 


STORIES    OF    OUR    SOLDIERS. 


with  the  other  side  of  the  river,  was  quite  rich 
and  fertile.  The  farms  we  passed  were  well 
stocked  with  geese,  ducks  and  chickens,  and 
although  foraging  was  lor  bidden,  we  "  uoys  in 
bine"  managed  to  add  a  feather  to  our  cans 
now  and  then,  and,  if  my  memory  serves  me 
rightly,  our  officers  didn't  refuse  to  pick  a  bone 
with  as  occasionally  auout  break  last  time. 
Hoes  and  pigs  roamed  through  the  country  at 
large  with  a  freedom  from  restraint  wnich  we 
in  the  ranks  truly  envied.  But  at  night,  after 
pitching  our  shelters,  cooking  and  eating  sup- 
per, and  getting  fixed  for  the  night 

Some  of  us  used  to  Interfere  with  the  freedom 
of  the  pigs,  for  we  considered  them  contraband 
of  wax  and  fit  subjects  for  confiscation;  HO  as 
soon  as  it  was  dark  we  used  to  go  hunting 
through  the  woods  for  them,  and  many  a  poor, 
siab-siued  porker  gave  out  his  last  grunt  on  the 
point  of  a  Yankee  bayonet.  No  wonder  we 
never  saw  any  shoulders  or  hams  (but  only  sides 
of  bacon)  while  we  were  in  the  army,  for  all  the 
hoes  that  1  ever  saw  down  South  were  nothing 
but  sides,  auu  so  thin  that  you  could  almost  see 
day  light  through  them,  and  they  had  uardatime 
of  it  to  keep  the  two  si. .  es  from  growing  together. 
Not  beme  used  to  marching  all  day,  we  would 
get  pretty  tired  along  in  the  afternoon,  and  the 
regiment  would  ue  strung  along  the  road  in  not 
very  close  order.  At  such  times  Col.  Stevens 
would  order  the  band  to  play,  and  it  was  won- 
derful to  see  the  change  that  would  come  over 
the  boys.  We  would  brace  up  and  trudge  along 
bravely  for  a  mile  or  two  further.  I  remember 
one  comrade  by  the  name  of  Ladd — we  used  to 
call  him  "  Rosy" — on  account  of  his  red  cheeks; 
he  was  quite  fleshy  and  found  it  pretty  hard  to 
keep  UD  sometimes,  but  we  used  to  encourage 
and  help  him  all  we  could. 

Before  he  enlisted  he  had  been  an  en- 
thusiastic member  of  the  Concord  Fire  Depart- 
ment, and  when  he  got  to  lagging  too  far  be* 
hind  some  of  the  boys  would  sing  out  to  him. 
Fire,  Rosy,  tire!  which  would  brighten  him  up 
consideraoly.  but  one  afternoon  even  that 
failed,  for  he  said,  "  Let  her  burn,  boys,  I'm 
plaved  out." 

On  the  afternoon  of  the  fifth  day  from  camp 
a  severe  rain  storm  came  on,  and  we  halted  for 
the  night  in  a  pine  grova  The  weather  up  to 
this  time  had  been  quite  warm  ana  pleasant, 
and  we  had  not  been  very  particular  about 
pitching  our  tents— had  stuck  them  up  any 
way  so  that  they  would  keep  the  dew  off.  But 
our  lack  of  experience  cost  us  dearly  this 
nignt,  for  we  had  heaps  of  trouble  getting  our 
tents  together  and  up,  and  keeping  them  there. 
They  were  anything  but  shelters  that  night.  In 
the  morning  the  ground  was  covered  with 
snow  to  the  depth  of  four  inches,  but  the  sun 
soon  melted  it  away. 

On  this,  the  sixth  day  from  Fairfax  Seminary, 
before  noon,  we  reached  the  point  on  the  river 
where  we  were  to  cross.  Transportation  not 
being  ready  for  us,  and  the  weather  suddenly 
becoming  very  raw  and  cold,  we  built  large 


camp  fires  and  hugged  them  pretty  closely  all 
day. 

At  that  time  we  had  the  old-fashioned  paper 
cartridges,  and  some  of  the  boys  standing  back 
to  the  fire  got  too  close,  and  their  cartridge 
boxes  began  to  curl,  and  finally  bung!  banxl 
went  their  cartridges,  frightening  them  nearly 
out  of  their  wits  and  coming  very  near  injuring 
some  of  them. 

The  transports  were  not  re:\dy  for  us  until 
after  dark,  and  it  was  9  o'clock  in  the  evening 
before  we  landed  at  Acquia  Creek — Burnside's 
base  of  supply.  We  marched  about  a  mile  and 
camped  for  the  night.  Cold,  that  was  no  name 
for  it!  Why,  the  next  morning  the  Potomac 
was  frozen  so  hard  that,  the  steamers  could  not 
get  to  the  wharf.  Our  officers  were  in  a  terrible 
plight — for  they  had  neither  tents  nor  blankets 
—the  baggaue  having  all  been  left  on  the  Mary- 
land side  of  the  river. 

Take  it  altogether  it  was  the  most  disagreea- 
ble night  our  regiment  ever  passed. 

On  the  morning  of  tne  eighth  our  brigade 
started  for  Falmouth,  where  we  arrived  on  the 
ninth,  and  became  part  of  that  "  glorious  old 
Army  of  the  Potomac,"  which,  then  under 
Burnside,  was  preparing  to  attack  Lee  in  Fred- 
ericksbnrg. 

Our  army  lite  now  really  began.  Our  regi- 
ment was  here  detached  from  Wright's  brigade 
and  assigned  to  tne  First  Brigade  (Col.  Haw- 
kins's), Third  Division  (Gen.  Getty),  Ninth  Army 
Corps  (Gen.  Wilcox).  Sumner's  Grand  Division. 
As  near  as  I  can  rememuer.  our  brigade  con- 
sisted ot  six  regiments,  as  follows:  Tne  Ninth 
New  York  (Hawkins's  Zouaves).  Twenty-fifth 
New  Jersey.  Tenth  and  Thirteenth  New  Hamp- 
shire. Eighty-ninth  New  York  ana  One  Hun- 
dred and  Third  New  York. 

Preparations  were  at  once  commenced  for  the 
impending  battle.  Eighty  rounds  of  patent 
cartridges  were  issued  to  us— 40  rounds  were 
placed  in  our  cartridge  boxes,  tne  other  40  in 
our  knapsacks. 

The  cooks  were  kept  busy  dealing  out  our 
hard  tack,  coffee  and  sugar,  and  cooking  our 
beel — or  salt  horse,  as  we  used  to  call  it.  Tne 
next  day,  the  10th.  I  got,  leave  to  visit  the 
Twelfth  and  Sixth  New  Hampshire,  in  both  of 
which  I  had  friends. 

I  hunted  them  UD  and  found  them  all  right 
1  remember  with  what  feelings  of  admiration, 
almost  veneration,  I  looked  upon  the  mem  hers 
of  the  Sixth,  for  they  were  already  veterans  of 
five  buttles— viz. ,  Camden,  Second  Bull  Run, 
Chan  til  ly,  South  Mountain  and  An  tie  tarn. 

They  were  veritable  heroes  in  my  eyes  and  I 
listened  to  their  stories  of  the  battles,  told  with 
that  sangfroid  peculiar  to  old  soldiers  and 
sailors,  with  as  much  wonder,  as  when  a  child 
I  listened  to  the  fairy  tales  of  old.  These  veter- 
ans of  McClellan  and  Burnside.  Icoked  upon  us 
new  men  with  a  sort  of  contempt,  mixed  with 
pity  for  our  lack  of  experience  and  service. 
But  only  a  week  or  two  later,  after  we  had  been 
,  n  rough  the  battle  of  Fredericksburg.  and  re- 


INTO    THE    JAWS    OF    DEATH. 


151 


calved  our  first  baptism  In  blood,  we  had  the 
same  feeling  toward  raw  recruits  and  new 
regiments. 

The  following  story  was  told  me  by  a  mend 
in  the  Sixth. 

Bill  Homer,  whom  I  had  formerly  known  by 
sight,  had  an  impediment  in  his  speech,  and 
stuttered  fearfully.  He  was  a  rough  and  ready 
son.  of  a  fellow,  and  rather  profane.  1  will  give 
the  story  as  told  me. 

One  day  Homer  was  on  picket  when  the 
enemy  was  but  a  few  miles  away  and  strict 
orders  had  been  given  to  allow  no  one  to  pass 
without  the  countersign,  not  even  our  own  offi- 
cers; this  order  came  direct  from  Gen.  Burn- 
si(Je,  his  corps  commander,  whom  Homer  knew 
by  sight  as  well  as  he  did  his  own  Captain. 
Well,  some  time  the  night  previous  to  Homer's 
going  on  in  the  morning.  Gen.  Bnrnside,  with  a 
small  escort  of  cavalry,  had  gone  out  through 
the  picket  line  to  reconnoitre  his  front  by  early 
daylight.  The  countersign  had  been  changed 
thai  morning,  so  when  the  General  came  back 
between  8  and  9  o'clock  he  was  without  it.  As 
Gen.  burnside  rode  up,  he  was  halted  by  Hor- 
ner ;  the  General  had  one  of  his  aids  dismount 
an<l  advance  as  close  as  Homer  would  allow  and 
state  the  cause  ot  their  being  without  the  coun- 
tersign, but  to  no  purpose ;  the  General,  becom- 
ing impatient,  cried  out:  "This  is  Gen.  Burn- 
side  and  party."  Homer  replied  at  once:  "Ge- 
ge-gen-er-er  Genral  B-B-BVBurn-Bnr-Burnside 
or-or-or  G-G-God  Allmighty  can't  na-pa-pass 
here  wi-wi-without  th-th-the  countersign  1 " 
and  he  kept  them  waiting  until  the  officer  in 
Command  of  the  picket  could  be  called  to  pass 
them  through. 

The  next  day  Homer  was  ordered  to  report  to 
Buruside's  headquarters,  where  he  was  highly 
complimented  for  bis  faithful  performance  of 
duty,  and  given  a  10  days'  furlough. 

The  llth  of  December.  1862,  opened  up  with 
more  music  than  I  had  ever  before  heard.  Our 
batteries  all  along  our  front  lielched  torth  fiery 
blasts  all  the  forenoon,  and  we  did  not  suppose 
there  could  possibly  be  a  rebel  left  in  Fred- 
ericksburg— but  there  was— lots  of  tnem. 

Although  we  knew  that  a  forward  movement 
meant  death  to  some,  and  disability  to  more  of 
us.  yet  wn  welcomed  the  change,  perhaps  as 
much  from  patriotic  motives  as  for  the  sake  of 
a  change. 

On  the  afternoon  of  the  llth  we  were  ordered 
to  fall  in.  We  marched  toward  the  river  and 
halted  in  the  hollow  in  the  rear  of  the  Phillips 
house,  where  we  remained  under  arms  till 
night, when  we  were  ordered  back  to  camp,  where 
we  nad  hardly  got  settled  before  we  were  or- 
dered out  again,  and  this  time  meant  business. 

Alter  meandering  up  and  uowu  the  river 
bank  awhile,  following  a  guide  who  didn't 
guide  worth  a  cent,  we  finally  fount  the  pon- 
toon bridge,  and  crossing  over  the  Rappahan- 
nock,  were  in  the  streets  of  Fredericksburg. 

We  stacKed  arms  in  the  main  street  and  after 
placing  guards  over  our  arms  and  equipments, 


we  disposed  of  ourselves  for  the  night  within 
easy  call 

Early  next  morning  I  took  a  little  stroll 
around  through  some  of  the  streets  looking  for 
trophies  and  observing  the  results  of  our  bom- 
bardment of  the  day  before. 

Oar  shells  had  raised  sad  havoc  with  most  of 
the  buildings.  The  brick  ones— many  of  them— 
were  in  ruins  and  the  wooden  ones  were  shat- 
tered and  honeycombed  with  holes  from  an 
inch  in  diameter  to  those  as  large  as  a  hogshead. 


I  came  to  quite  a  nice  looking  dwelling  house 
surrounded  by  a  lawn  filled  with  shrubbery 
and  trees.  Thinking  I  would  like  to  look  the 
place  over,  I  opened  the  gate  and  wa.ked  in. 
As  1  approached  the  back  of  the  house  a  sight 
met  my  eyes  that  brought  me  to  a  standstill. 
There  upon  the  lawn  on  its  back,  stretched  stiff 
and  stark,  was  the  body  of  as  handsome  a  man 
as  1  ever  saw,  dressed  in  a  new  Confederate 
uniform.  He  was  an  officer.  His  rank,  in  my 
horror  at  the  sight  (for  this  was  the  first  body 
whose  death  resulted  from  violence  1  had  ever 
seen),  I  forgot  to  notice.  In  life  he  must  have 
been  a  noble  looking  man.  His  features  were 
as  tine  and  clean  cut  as  though  chiseled  from 
marble,  an  1  as  white.  He  had  a  long  ulack 
moustache  and  goatee  and  black  curly  hair. 

As  he  lay  there,  cold  and  stark  in  death,  cov- 
ered with  the  dews  of  night.  I  could  not  help 
wishing  that  he  were  alive  and  well  and  up 
on  the  Heights  with  the  rest  of  the  Johnnies. 
He  had  been  killed  the  day  before  by  one  of  our 
shells,  which  had  taken  off  the  top  of  the  back 
of  his  nead.  I  had  seen  enough,  and  went  back 
and  told  the  rest  of  the  boys,  many  of  whom 
wished  to  see  a  rebel  at  short  range,  either  dead 
or  alive. 

During  the  day  quite  a  number  of  dead  rebels 
were  found  in  the  yards  ana  houses,  where  they 
had  been  killed  by  our  shells,  or  the  bullets 
from  our  sharpshooters.  We  spent  this  day  (the 
iL'ih)  in  the  streets,  doing  nothing  in  particular, 
out  ready  to  fall  in  at  a  moment's  warning. 

I  know  that  we  ran  across  an  old  darky,  who 
told  us  where  the  rebs  had  sunk  several  tons  of 
tobacco  close  by  the  river  bank  to  keep  it  from 
falling  into  our  hands. 

We  procured  poles  and  drove  spikes  into  the 
ends  of  them,  then  egan  hunting  for  the  weed. 
We  found  it  readily;  as  fast  as  a  box  was 
brought  to  the  surface  plenty  of  hands  were 
ready  to  pull  it  on  snore.  In  less  than  an  hour 
we  had  captured  enough  tobacco  for  our  whole 
brigade.  We  all  filled  our  knapsacks  and 
pockets  with  it  and  left  lots  of  it  to  be  kicked 
about  the  streets.  What  a  bonanza  thatltobacco 
would  have  been  for  the  sutlers,  but  they 
weren't  getting  so  near  the  front  in  those  days. 

On  the  morning  of  the  13th  the  ball  opened 
again  in  earnest  Oar  artillery  from  the  Fal- 
moutb  bank  of  the  river  were  firing  over  us. 
and  the  rebel  guns  on  Marye's  Haignts  were 
throwing  their  shot  and  shell  both  over  and  at 
us. 

Finally  our  brigade  was  marched  down  under 
the  river  bank,  with  the  exception  of  the  Tenth 


152 


STORIES   OF   OUR    SOLDIERS. 


New  Hampshire,  which  was  up  at  the 
picket    Here,  under   the   river  bank, 


the  front  on 

_  j  we  were 

allowed  to  sit  or  lie  down  with  our  muskets  be- 
side us  and  equipments  on  ready  to  advance  at 
any  time.  "We  were  now  well  protecte<l  from 
the  rebel  guns,  but  not  from  our  own.  for  we 
found  the  nearer  we  got  to  our  batteries  the 
more  dangerous  they  became,  especially  the  one 
directly  opposite  us,  for  almost  every  other 
shell  they  threw  burst  as  soon  as  it  left  the  gnu, 
and  the  pieces  would  come  whizzing  and  whir- 
ring directly  at  us.  After  a  while  of  dodging 
and  ducking  we  became  a  little  nervous  over  it 
an  i  legan  to  protest  to  our  officers,  and  finally 
our  Colonel  notified  Col.  Hawkins  that  it  ought 
to  be  stopped,  and  he  (Col.  Hawkins)  sent 
one  of  his  aids  across  the  river 
with  a  protest.  The  aid  soon  came  back,  saying 
the  Captain  of  the  battery's  excuse  was  that 
"some  of  his  ammunition  was  poor,"  but  he 
kept  on  throwing  it  at  us  just  the  same,  and  we 
soon  became  so  indignant  and  threatening  about 
it  that  Gen.  Getty  wa-t  notified,  and  he  sent 
word  across  that  if  the  battery  wasn't  silenced 
the  Captain  would  be  put  under  arrest.  But  be- 
fore the  order  reached  him  one  man  was  killed. 
He  belonged  to  the  Ninth  New  York,  which  reg- 
iment lay  in  front  of  us.  and  a  little  nearer  the 
too  of  the  bank. 

I  saw  the  piece  of  shell  coming  directly  for 
me,  and  lain  flat  on  the  ground  to  avoid  it:  at 
the  same  moment  I  hear  i  "a  sickening  thud," 
and  looked  up  just  in  time  to  see  the  man  ui- 
rectly  in  front  of  me  give  two  or  three  spas- 
modic kicks  and  straighten  out  dead. 

He  was  lying  on  nis  side,  leaning  his  head 
on  his  hand,  and  probably  asleep  when  struck. 
The  ragged  piece  of  shell,  about  as  big  as  a 
silver  dollar,  hit  him  just  back  of  the  eyes  and 
passed  through  his  head.  This  was  the  first  man 
I  had  ever  seen  killed,  and  to  know  tuat  it  had 
been  done  by  our  own  men  an  i  guns  made  it 
seem  more  horrible.  We  were  all  furious  over 
this  murder — as  we  called  it — and  many  threats 
were  made  to  cross  the  river,  shoot  the  Captain 
and  throw  hit  guns  into  the  river. 

The  idea  became  firmly  fixed  in  our  mindi 
that  the  fuses  ot  the  shells  from  that  battery 
were  cut  short  on  purpose  to  demoralize  us 
and  that  the  Captain  was  a  traitor. 

Sometime  near  noon,  I  think,  we  were  or- 
dered to  fall  in,  as  we  supposed,  to  go  up  to  the 
front,  where  the  battle  had  been  raging  furi- 
ously all  the  forenoon,  but  we  marched  m> 
Main  street  a  little  way  and  turned  to  the  left 
up  a  short  street  leading  toward  the  front,  and 
baited  in  a  field  in  rear  of  some  buildings  that 
were  being  usert  as  hospitals. 

.  Here  we  saw  some,  qt  the  norrors  of  war,  for 
the  wounded  were  being  brought  in  every  mo- 
ment ami  carried  into  these  hospitals,  where 
arms,  legs,  feet  and  hands  were  being  ampu- 
tated, and  every  little  while  an  arm  or  leg 
would  be  dropped  Irom  a  window  to  the  ground 
below;  and  before  we  moved  irom  there  there 
were  three  or  four  piles  of  different  members  of 
tbe  human  body,  as  large  as  bushel  baskets. 
\nd  all  this  within  fifty  feet  of  where  we  were 


sitting  or  lying  around  on  the  grass.  Although 
this  was  our  first  experience  in  tue  actual  hor- 
rors ot  battle,  we  soon  became  hardened. 

As  I  look  back  over  those  years  that  are  gona, 
to  that  Decemuer  afternoon  when  we  sat  there 
in  those  back  yards  of  Fredericksburg,  eating 
hard  tack  and  "salt  horse."  with  tne  roar  of 
that  terrible  battle  ueforj  us  anu  those  hospitals 
back  of  us,  1  can  bat  won  ler  how  we  could 
have  been  so  hea:  tless  as  to  have  joked  and 
laughed  iu  the  presence  of  so  much  danger  and 
suffering.  War.  thou  art  a  great  demoralizer. 

Just  before  dark  our  division  was  ordered 
into  the  fight.  We  had  been  lying  around  all 
day  in  suspense,  and  we  fell  in  quickly  and 
marched  by  column  of  fours  out  toward  tue 
front  The  fury  of  the  battle  seemed  to  go 
down  wita  the  sun,  for  at  this  time  it  was  not 
raging  near  so  hard  as  it  had  been  during  the 
day. 

But  there  was  noise  enough  then  to  suit  us, 
for  the  skirmishers  up  at  the  front  were  poo- 
ping away  quite  lively,  and  every  few  minutes 
a  shell  would  explode  a  little  way  ahead  of  our 
column,  and  1  now  heard  for  the  first  time  the 
hateiul  humming  of  a  spent  Mime  ball. 

We  marched  out  through  the  fields,  winding 
our  way  through  the  openings  in  the  fences  that 
had  neen  made  by  our  troops  earlier  in  the  day. 

As  we  marched  a>oug  we  met  wounded  men, 
stragglers  and  the  usual  number  of  bummers 
that  are  always  dropping  back  to  the  rear  ot  all 
armies  during  a  oattla  And  these  were  some 
of  the  encouraging  remarks  we  heard  from 
them:  "Ot,  you'll  get  all  you  want  up  there  1" 

"  It's  h up  there  -oysl"  "Don't  you  wish 

you  Hadn't  enlisted?  "  "  You'll  not  come  back 
in  such  fine  stylet"  "The  Johnnies  will  cook 
some  of  you  before  you  get  over  that  stonewall 
up  yonder  1 "  aud  various  other  similar  re- 
marks, having  a  tendency  to  depress  rather 
than  encourage  us. 

I  don't  know  now  the  rest  of  the  boys  felt,  bat 
I  do  know  that  as  we  marched  toward  the  irout 
an  indescribable  feeling  came  over  me.  a  sort 
of  depressing  faintness,  some  such  feeling  as  I 
imagine  a  pound  of  lead  dropped  into  an  empty 
stomach  would  causa  I  thought  at  the  time  it 
was  tear,  and  think  so  still,  out  all  the  boys  that 
I  asKed  how  they  felt "  said  they  didn't  feel  a 
bit  afraid,  "only  a  little  queer,"  and  as  that  was 
about  the  way  1  telt.  of  course  I  was  not  scared 
either.  We  .  orme  i  our  line  of  battle  benincl 
the  railroad  embankment,  which  covered  us 
from  the  view  of  the  enemy.  By  the  time  our 
line  was  formed  it  was  nearly  dark. 

The  Ninth  New  YorK  (Hawkins  Zouaves)  was 
in  the  front  line,  an  >  our  regiment  (Thirteenth 
New  Hampshire)  in  the  second  just  behind 
them.  (Tne  division  was  to  charge  in  double 
line  of  battle.) 

Finally  the  order  was  given  to  "  advance  in 
line  oi  battle,"  but  for  some  reason  the  front 
lii.e  didn't  move,  and  we  couldn't,  without 

Sring     over   or   through     them.      Then    Gen. 
awkins  (Adjutant  General)  appeared  on   tba 
railroad,  and  very  vehemently  urged  the  Nintb 
New  York  to  advance,  but  to  no  purpose,    i  ie 


INTO  .THE   JAWS    OP   DEATH. 


155 


pitched  into  them  "up-hill  and  down,"  called 
them  cowards,  bat  they  would  not  budge  an 
inch  from  their  position. 

[In  a  subsequent  letter  to  the  Journal  con- 
cerning this  episode.  Sergeant  Soiller  desires  to 
make  a  correction.  It  was,  he  says,  the  26th 
fiew  Jersey,  and  not  the  9th  New  Yorkj 

In  the  uisiory  of  the  Tenth  Mew  Hampshire 
Adjutant  General's  reuort  for  1866  it  says: 
'•  For  some  uu accountable  reason  the  Hawkins 
Zouaves  failed  to  advance." 

This  officer,  in  nis  harangue  to  the  Ninth  New 
York,  meniioned  our  regiment,  and  supposing 
he  included  as  in  his  list  of  cowards,  a  man  in 
my  company  yelled  out  at  him:  "  You're  a  iiarl 
We  are  no  cowards."  The  Adjutant  hearing  it 
turned  his  attention  to  us,  and  ordered  us  10  ad- 
vance. "  Forward,  Thirteenth  Mew  Hampshire. 
Charge  over  the  cowardly  dogs!"  Being  thor- 
oughly enraged  at  his  taunts,  which  we  sup- 
nosed  he  meant  for  the  whole  brigade,  and  in- 
dignant at  what  we  considered  the  cowardice  of 
the  Ninth  Mew  York,  we  waited  lor  no  second 
bidding,  but  with  a  cheer,  and  at  a  run.  we  went 
over  them,  up  the  embankment,  across  the  rail- 
road, down  the  other  side,  over  and  through 
•iitches,  across  fields,  through  hollows  and  over 
crests  until  we  reached  the  ascent  just  below 
Marye's  Heights,  ana  directly  in  front  of  the 
stone  wall. 

As  we  came  up  over  the  last  crest,  and  on  to 
this  sandy,  smooth,  though  inclined  plain,  we 
were  pretty  well  tuckered  out,  having  gone 
nearly  half  a  mile  (I  should  judge),  most  of  the 
way  at  a  run,  or  double  quick,  and  cheering 
and  yelling  at  the  top  of  our  voices.  Stopping 
here  but  a  moment  to  straighten  out  oar  line  a 
little,  the  order  was  given :  "  Charge  bayonets, 
forward,  double-quick  march,"  and  forward  we 
went  at  a  ran. 

By  this  time  it  bad  become  quite  dark,  and  all 
we  could  see  ahead  of  us  were  the  heights, 
looking  black  and  formidable  in  the  darkness. 
I  noticed  two  or  three  lights  on  the  heights — 
they  were  probably  near  batteries. 

"We  gave  a  rousing  cheer  as  we  started  for  the 
stone  wall,  but  it  was  cat  short  most  uncere- 
moniously, for  at  this  moment  the  rebs  opened 
upon  us ;  the  next  five  minutes  is  better  de- 
scribed in  the  words  used  by  one  of  the  wounded 
men  we  met  a  short  time  previous,  who  .said, 
"it's  bell  ap  there  boys."  First  a  sheet  of  flame 
—it  seemed  to  me  a  mile  long  and  right  in  our 
fac  s— then  ten  thousan  I  bumble  bees  and  a 
thousand  demons  shrieking  in  our  ears  couldn't 
have  made  more  noise  than  the  thousands  of 
ballets,  grape  and  cannister,  solid  shot  and 
shell  did — it  was  terrible — but  we  kept  on  for  a 
moment  longer. 

Then  there  came  tearing  through  our  regi- 
ment, likf  a  drove  of  wild  buffaloes,  the 
Twenty -tilth  New  Jersey,  scattering  us  and 
bayoneting  some  of  our  men.  Bringing  my  gun 
to  my  shoulder  I  fired  ap  at  the  line  ot  flame  in 
front  of  me.  and  bringing  it  down  again  to  re- 


load. I  discovered  that  I  was  alone.  Turning 
quickly  to  ran  back  with  the  rest,  my  heel 
caught  in  the  sand,  I  tripped  and  fell  fall  length 
on  the  ground,  my  gun  falling  about  six  feet 
from  me. 

At  this  time  the  bullets  were  flying  like  hail- 
stones, and  not  daring  to  rise.  I  turned  over  on 
my  back,  and  no  woodchuck  ever  tried  harder 
to  get  into  his  hole  than  I  did  to  get  into  that 
sand.  The  air  above  me  seemed  filled  with  ail 
sorts  of  missiles  of  death,  bat  as  I  lay 

most  of  the  shots  went  above  me,  but  some  of 
the  bullets  struck  tne  ground  near  enough  to 
me  to  throw  the  sand  into  my  ears  and  face. 

By  working  my  head  and  shoulders.  hii>s  and 
heels,  1  managed  to  gel  down  into  the  sand  a 
little,  and  I'll  bet  I  wasn't  over  two  inches  thick. 
I  even  turned  my  feet  over  to  each  side  so  my 
toes  would  not  stick  up.  I  probably  laid  there 
10  minutes  (it  seemed  an  hour),  and  during  that 
time  I  thought  of  everything,  of  home,  friends, 
and  whether  I  should  be  killed,  wounded  or 
taken  prisoner,  for  I  never  expected  to  get  out 
01  it  aiivfl  and  whole. 

Finally  the  firing  slackened  np  so  much  that  I 
thought  I  might  stand  a  chance  of  dodging  the 
bullets,  and.  fearful  of  being  taken  prisoner,  I 
took  the  chances  of  stray  bullets  and  shell.  Get* 
tine  onto  my  hands  and  knees.  I  crawled  around 
and  found  my  gun,  then  jumping  up  I  started  at 
a  run  tor  the  city.  Going  a  few  rods  I  heard  a 
voice  to  my  left  trying  to  rally  some  men. 
Thinking  it  might  be  my  regiment  I  turned  in 
that  direction.  The  cries  ot  the  wounded  were 
heartrending.  One  poor  fellow,  whom  on  ac- 
couni  of  the  darkness  1  couldn't  see,  was  crying 
piteously  for  water.  From  his  accent  1  knew  he 
was  an  Irishman,  belonging  to  the  Tenth  New 
Hampshire.  "  Watherl  Watherl  For  the  love 
of  the  Holy  Virgin,  give  me  some  watherl" 

That  voice  haunts  me  now,  and  1  have 
always  wished  that  I  bad  hunted  the  poor  fel- 
low up  and  given  him  a  drink  out  of  my  can- 
teen ;  but  being  anxious  to  find  my  regiment, 
and  thinking  that  the  next  moment  might 
bring  the  Johnnies  down  on  me,  I 
didn't  think  It  prudent  to  stop. 
But  the  agonizing  cries  of  the  wounded 
were  soon  lost  and  for  the  moment  forgotten,  as 
I  listened  to  the  most  eloquent  appeal  I  ever 
heard.  It  was  CoL  Donahoe  of  the  Tenth  New 
Hampshire  trying  to  rally  the  fragments  of  our 
brigade  for  another  charge  on  that  terrible 
wall.  I  stopped  tor  a  few  minutes  and  listened 
to  his  impassioned  speech.  But  with  the  hun- 
dred or  two  men  gathered  there,  I  saw  it  was 
folly  to  attempt  anything,  so  continued  my  way 
to  the  rear. 

But  my  admiration  for  Col.  Michael  Donaboe 
as  a  brave  soldier  dates  from  that  night. 

After  wandering  around  for  an  hour  or  two 
and  inquiring  of  everyone  I  met  for  the  Thir- 
teenth New  Hampshire.  I  finally  found  what 
few  of  them  had  kept  together  in  a  ravine  about 
half  a  mile  back  from  the  heights. 

Here   1  found  CoL  Stevens  and  many  of  oar 


15G 


STORIES    OF    OUR    SOLDIERS. 


men.  covered  with  mua  and  weary  and  discour- 
aged. I  was  right  glad  to  find  so  many  ot  my 
company  unhurt,  and  they  were  pleased  to  see 
me  in  the  same  condition.  After  laying  here 
awhile  we  were  ordered  back  into  Fredericks- 
bnrg,  and  stacked  arms  in  the  street  in  about 
the  same  location  we  had  occupied  the  night 
before:  here  the  company  rolls  were  called,  and 
a  (rood  many  were  missing,  but  some  turned  UP 
before  moraine. 

I  remember  that  night  one  man  in  my  com- 
pany shot  his  forefinger  off.  He  said  accidental- 
ly, but  as  it  was  the  forefinger  of  his  right  hand 
and  our  guns  were  all  stacked,  we  were  unchar- 
itable enough  to  think  it  was  intentional.  We 
spent  a  good  part  of  that  night  talking  over  the 
events  of  the  day  and  evening.  It  was  the  gen- 
eral opinion  among  us  that  the  whole  piece  of 
business  was  a  blunder,  and  the  sending  of  our 
division  in  after  dark,  alone  and  without  sup- 
port, as  far  as  we  could  see,  we  thought  was 
worse  than  a  blunder. 

The  fact  was  just  this:  The  Third  Division. 
Ninth  Army  Corps,  under  Gen.  Getty,  had  been 
sent  up  after  dark  against  those  impregnable 
heights  that  had  withstood  the  assaults  of 


whole  corps  all  day.    For  what?    It  has  always 
been  a  conundrum  to  ma 

Another  fact  has  always  struck  me  as  being 
very  foolish,  why  we  were  taken  up  over  that 
rough  ground  for  about  half  a  »nile  at  a  run, 
for  we  were  about  played  out  when  we  got  there, 
and  had  we  succeeded  in  getting  over  their 
works  would  have  been  in  110  condition  to  fight. 

The  next  day  (the  14th)  we  spent  in  the  city, 
expecting  the  battle  would  be  renewed  every 
minute,  but,  thank  the  Lord,  wiser  counsels  pre- 
vailed and  we  were  spared  another  trial  in  that 
slaughter  pen.  I  visited  some  of  the  other  New 
Hampshire  regiments  and  found  that  some  of 
my  friends  from  Concord  had  been  killed  or 
wounded.  Among  those  killed  Maj.  Sturtevant 
of  the  Fifth  was  the  most  prominent,  he  haying 
been  Chief  of  Police  of  Concord  for  a  long  time. 
Daring  the  day  1  heard  Col.  Harriman  of  the 
Eleventh  taking  on  quite  badly  about  the  Drave 
boys  he  had  lost  from  his  regiment.  It  was  a 
sad  Sunday  for  all;  we  felt  very  much  dispir- 
ited. This  being  our  first  battle  of  course  we 
felt  as  though  we  were  invincible,  and  we  ex- 
pected a  far  different  termination. 

W.  H.  SPILLKR. 


THE    TWENTIETH    CROSSED    IN    BOATS. 


[Sergeant  Josiah  F.  Murphy  of  Nantucket,  a  soldier  of 
Company  I,  Twentieth  Massachusetts,  writes  that  ne  was 
one  of  the  men  who  helped  pole  the  leading  boat  contain- 
ing hla  company  across  the  Rappahannock  to  Fredericks- 
burg.  His  letter  will  be  read  with  interest  as  it  clears  away 
the  controversy  regarding  the  Massachusetts  Twentieth 
crossing  the  river.] 

Capt  W.  A.  Hill  of  the  Nineteenth  Massachu- 
setts Regiment,  says  that  the  Twentieth  Massa- 
chusetts Regiment,  at  the  battle  of  Fredericks* 
burg,  did  not  cross  over  the  river  in  ooats  but 
were  the  first  regiment  to  cross  after  the  pon- 
toons were  finished.  Now,  I  will  not  say  that  the 
whole  of  the  Twentieth  Massachusetts  crossed 
orer  the  river  in  boats  at  that  battle,  but  1  will 
say  that  Company  I,  the  right  flank  company, 
did  cross  over  in  boats,  ana  I  can  furnish  the 
proof  right  here  in  Nantucket.  I  myself  pulled 
one  of  the  two  oars,  or  poles,  that  propelled  our 
boat  across  the  river.  A  man  by  the  name  of 
Thos.  Russell  of  this  town  (since  dead)  had  one 
of  the  oars,  or  poles,  and  was  propelling  the 
boat  on  one  side ;  the  man  on  the  opposite  side 
was  pulling  him  around  and  the  boat  was 
heading  up  stream  toward  Falmouth.  when 
Lieut.  Leander  F.  Alley,  also  of  this  town  (who 
was  killed  on  the  13th  on  Marye's  Heights), 
said  to  me,  "  Murphy,  take  that  oar  from  Rus- 
sell," which  I  did,  and  we  soon  had  the  boat  on 


the  opposite  side,  where  she  grounded  a  few 
feet  from  the  shore.  We  all  jumped  out,  and 
with  the  rest  of  the  company,  who  had  also 
come  over  in  another  boat,  went  under  cover  of 
the  river  bank,  where  we  stayed  until  tne  pon- 
toon was  finished  and  other  troops  began  to 
cross,  when  we  moved  forward  up  Fauqnier 
street.  I  think  was  the  name,  by  company  iront 
or  platoons.  The  remainder  of  the  regiment 
marched,  I  think,  by  the  right  flank,  in  column. 
It  was  then  when  we  showed  ourselves  on  the 
street  that  we  received  that  terrible  fire  from 
the  rebels,  whereby  we  lost  in  killed  and 
wounded  97  officers  and  men  from  our  regiment 
in  a  space  of  about  60  yards,  and  I  have  good 
cause  to  remember  it.  for  it  was  when  we 
reached  the  corner  of  Caroline  street  that  a 
rebel  bullet  plowed  a  furrow  in  the  right  side 
of  my  face,  which  brought  me  down,  and  from 
which  I  still  bear  the  scar. 

I  have  always  understood  that  the  Seventh 
Michigan  and  Nineteenth  Massachusetts  crossed 
over  first  in  boats,  and  deployed  as  skirmishers 
in  the  town,  keeping  the  enemy  back  while  the 
pontoon  was  being  finished,  and  it  was  the 
boats  they  crossed  in.  which,  on  returning  with 
a  few  rebel  prisoners,  we  went  over  in. 

I  do  not  for  a  moment  think  that  Captain  Hill 
would  detract  from  our  regiment  any  ot  its 
glory,  because  there  is  certainly  enough  to  go 
all  around.  J.  F.  MURPHY. 

Nantucket,  Mass. 


AN  ARMY  SINGER. 


[Few  civilians  were  so  widely  known  in  the  Ann;  of 
the  Potomac  and  of  the  Cumberland  as  E.  W  Locke, 
known  since  the  war  as  Father  Locke,  army  poet  and 
DalladUt.  For  some  years  before  the  war  hts  reputation 
as  a  song  writer  and  public  singer  were  such  that  at  the 
great  Republican  ratification  of  Abraham  Lincoln's  noml 
nation,  held  In  Faneull  Hall,  Governor  Andrew  sought 
him  to  ling  some  of  Ills  own  songs,  which,  as  many  will 
remember,  were  received  with  great  applause.  When  In 
August,  1860,  50,000  Republicans  gathered  at  Lincoln's 
home  In  Springfield,  111.,  our  singing  poet  had  been 
invited  to  add  Interest  to  the  occasion.  Then  and 
there  Mr.  Lincoln  became  his  friend;  for  he  was 
a  great  lover  of  certain  kinds  of  songs.  In  Feb- 
ruary, 1862,  Mr.  Locke  called  at  the  White  House 
to  we  If  the  President  had  forgotten  him.  After  a  short 
Interview  the  President  urged  him  to  go  to  the  army  and 
alng  his  patriotic  songs  to  the  soldiers,  as  he  sang  them  to 
patriotic  masses  of  men  and  women  In  most  of  the  North 
em  States  before  the  war.  He  thought  to  stay  three 
weeks,  bat  remained  three  years.  He  assumed  a  three- 
fold mission,  viz.,  singing  his  own  songs,  selling  postage 
Stamps  at  cost,  and  working  in  field  hospitals  during  and 
after  battles.  He  told  his  experiences  In  a  book  of  over 
400  page*,  entitled  "Three  Tears  in  r'amp  and  Hospital," 
tome  2O  years  ago,  and  though  eight  editions  were  printed, 
not  one  is  for  sale  to-day.  He  Is  now  one  of  the  substan- 
tial citizens  of  Chelsea,  having  laid  by  a  moderate  com 
petence  from  the  sales  of  his  songs  and  book,  and,  though 
76  years  old,  la  one  of  the  cheeriest  and  most  active  men 
one  meet*  on  the  street,  and  is  still  a  ureal.  attraction  at 
eampflres  and  reunions.  But  we  will  let  bun  tell  his  own 
•tory  of  his  work  In  the  war.  J 

My  first  effort  as  a  war  minstrel  came  very 
near  being  my  last.  I  had  crossed  Long  Bridge 
and  was  working  my  way  to  Arlington  Heights. 
where  the  larger  part  of  the  Army  of  the  Poto- 


mac was  encamped,  wlien  1  came  upon  a  regi- 
ment from  the  city  of  New  York,  composed,  as  1 
soon  learned  from  the  Colonel,  of  young  men 
from  the  very  highest  circles  of  the  city. 

I  showed  this  autocrat  of  a  thousand  men  my 
pass,  and  asked  permission  to  sing  for  his  regi- 
ment The  look  of  mingled  amusement  and 
"  get  out  "  he  gave  me  was, withering.  "Among 
my  men."  said  he.  "  are  more  than  a  score  of 
musicians  qualified  to  play  or  sing  in  first-class 
opera,  and  they  would  laugh  at  your  singing 
Go  and  do.  re.  mi  to  the  country  regiments  and 
they  will  appreciate  you.  Nevertheless,  vou 
may  make  a  trial,  but  if  you  raise  any  commo- 
tion you  must  leave  at  once."  Inviting  the  men 
to  hear  me,  I  was  about  to  mount  a  broad  stump 
for  a  platform,  whon  a  Lieutenant,  not  as  scru- 
pulous about  tin-  neatness  of  his  uniform  aa 
the  other  officers,  addressed  me  in  a  tone  be- 
fitting his  language.  "  1  say.  old  fellow,  have 
you  any  soap  to  sell?  "  My  answer  was:  "  No. 
but  if  I  had  expected  to  meet  as  dirty  a  fellow 
as  you,  I  would  have  boiurht  two  cakes  at  least." 
The  shout  that  met  this  reply  brought  a  crowd 
of  kindly  disposed  men.  I  handed  out  a  few 
copies  of  my  song,  then  new,  "  We're  Marching 
Down  to  Dixie's  Land."  and  we  had  a  grand 
chorus  to  even  the  first  verse.  Not  only  all  the 
men,  but  all  the  officers  came  to  the  concert, 
and  every  one  who  could  sing  took  part  in  the 
refrain,  if  nothing  more. 

The  Colonel  invited  me  to  make  his  regiment 
my  headquarters  as  long  as  I  pleased.  But  I  did 
not  feel  that  success  was  assured  with  onu  trial- 


lotf 


S1OKIKS   OF   OITK   SOLDIERS. 


i  knew  that  tbe  Sixth  Maine  was  a  short  dis- 
tance above  Chain  Bridge,  and  1  made  way  for 
that,  for  the  Colonel,  the  Chaplain  and  many 
of  the  men  had  been  my  friends  for  years. 
Spending  my  first  ni^ht  in  camp,  sharing  the 
cot  of  Chaulaiu  Thompson,  as  soon  aa  morning 
icuard  mounting  was  over  I  made  my  sec- 
ond «-ffort  as  a  war  minstrel. 

It  was  a  success,  and  from  that  day  I  felt  1  was 
part  of  the  army  to  put  down  the  rebellion. 
Shortly  after  McClellan  advanced  on  Manassas. 
to  tin>l  it  abandoned.  1  went  with  the  New  Eug 
land  cavalry  to  Warrington  Junction,  where  I 
found  a  brigade  of  five  regiments,  under  com- 
mand of  Gen.  Abercrombia  of  the  regular  army. 
an  elaerly.  gentlemanly  man,  whose  pleasant 
face  a n. I  gentle  speech  would  never  remind 
one  of  a  warrior. 

One  of  these  regiments  was  tbe  Massachusetts 
Twelfth,  CoL  Fletcher  Webster.  In  the  book 
published  by  this  regiment  is  a  full  narrative  of 
the  incident  I  am  about  to  relate  as  briefly  as 
possible. 

Thu  morning  after  reaching  the  camp  I  was 
about  to  enter  one  of  the  Sibley  tents  of  the 
Twelfth,  wnen  a  man  with  a  loud  voice  and 
commanding  tone  called  to  me.  "Here,  sirl 
thL-*  way,  sirl"  Isaid:  "Who  are  you.  to  ad 
dress  me  in  such  tones  and  manner?  "  "  I  am 
the  Provost  Marshal  of  this  brigade,  and  1  order 
you  to  report  to  me  immediately  1 "  was  his  an 
swer.  tie  was  Capt.  Bates,  Company  H  of  tbe 
Twelfth,  and  most  admirably  fitted  for  his  posi 
tion. 

He  took  me  at  once  for  a  spy.  as  he  could  see 
no  reason  why  1  should  be  20  miles  awav  from 
the  main  army,  liable  to  be  shot  or  captured 
any  minute,  with  nothing  to  sell  but  postage 
stamps  at  cost  and  a  few  sheets  of  music  at  five 
cents  a  copy.  He  tried  in  vain  to  frighten  me. 
made  an  effort  to  purchase  a  few  stamps  above 
their  face  value,  but  at  length  took  me  before 
the  General. 

Unfortunately  my  pass  had  been  left  in  the 
hands  of  a  Captain  six  miles  away,  and  the 
General  toll  me  that  though  f  was  surely  a 
New  England  man  and  seemed  like  a  gentle- 
man, he  would  have  to  detain  me  until  I  could 
send  for  my  pass  or  he  could  communicate  with 
the  President.  Isaid:  "General,  I  am  E.  W. 
Locke  of  Portland,  Ma,  a  well-known  song 
writer  and  singer,  a  friend  of  President  Lincoln, 
who  urged  me  to  come  to  the  army  and  sing  my 
patriotic  songs  in  camp,  and  now.  with  your 
permission.  I  will  sing  one  for  you." 

"  Let  us  hear  it,"  said  the  General.  I  was  not 
half  through  with  tbe  first  stanza  when  Captain 
Bates  interrupted  by  asking  (or  a  copy  of  the 
song.  He  was  a  magnificent  bass  singer  and  the 
General's  Adjutant  was  one  of  the  sweetest  of 
tenors,  and  soon  that  old  Virginia  log  house  had 
such  music  as  never  rang  through  its  rooms 
before.  We  sang  the  last  verse  six  times  or 
more,  and  the  last  time  I  met  General  Bates,  a 
year  before  he  died  (he  commanded  tne  brigade 
a  year  or  more  before  the  war  closed),  he  said: 
"I  shall  never  forget  that  verse."  1  quote  it: 
"  March  on,  march  on,  our  cause  is  just, 

To  Dune's  land,  to  Dixie's  land. 
With  loyal  hearts  and  Ood  our  trust 
To  put  rebellion  down  1 


Tbe  blood  of  martyred  brothers  cne» 
From  Dude's  land,  from  Dixie's  land. 

Avenge,  avenge  our  sacrifice, 
And  pat  rebellion  down! 

The  trumpet  sounds,  the  war  cry  rings. 

Throuxn  Dune's  land,  through  Dixie's  land. 
With  cUslilni:  steel  each  brave  bean  iprtngl 

To  put  rebellion  down." 

The  chorus  bad  a  ringing  melody,  the  bands 
played  it,  and  until  Root  gave  us  "  Rally  Round 
the  Flag."  and  "Tramp,  Tramp,"  this  song  and 
"  We're  Marching  on  to  Richmond"  were  in  a 
fair  way  to  become  national. 

It  is  perhaps  needless  to  add  that  my  songs 
and  singing  were  as  good  as  a  pass  in  every  pan 
of  the  Armv  of  tne  Potomac. 

Tbe  "  Marching  to  Richmond  "  song  was  writ- 
ten and  composed  one  night  while  lying  in  a 
dog  tent  of  the  Filth  Maine  in  tne  swamp  of  tbe 
Chickahominy.  Here  is  the  chorus* 

"  Then  tramp  away  while  the  bugle*  play, 

We're  marching  on  to  Richmond, 
Otti  Hag  shall  gleam  In  the  morning  beam 
From  many  a  spire  in  Richmond." 

.•Vbout  the  same  time,  when  all  the  victories 
were  on  the  wrong  side,  I  wrote  and  composed 
'•We  Must  Not  Fall  Back  Any  More."  1  give 
one  verse . 

We  often  go  home  in  our  dreams,  boys, 

Ami  sit  by  tbe  old  kitchen  lire. 
And  inll  o'er  the  tales  or  our  camps,  boys. 

To  UM'nero  we  never  can  tire; 
Hut  just  In  our  moment-*  of  buss,  boys. 

When  thinking  our  hardships  axe  o'er, 
The  order  come*  round  to  turn  out,  boys, 

Kail  in  and  tramp  on  a*  before. 

This  song  w  is  changed  by  the  author  of 
'Shall  We  Gather  at  the  River?"  and  did  service 
in  the  Suudav  Schools  for  a  number  of  years. 
When  General  Grant  came  to  Brandy  Station 
to  take  charge  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  no 
troops  were  in  line  or  high-grade  officers 
were  prevent  to  receive  him.  With  his 
Adjutant  and  a  colored  boy  to  carry  bis  valis*. 
he  started  for  General  Mead's  headquarters, 
three-quarters  of  a  mile  away,  while  I  went  to 
an  empty  tent  to  celebrate  the  occasion  by 
writing  a  song  to  an  old  melody,  that  when  h« 
beard  the  boys  singing  it  he  might  know  some- 
body was  glad  he  had  come.  Before  night 
tbe  song  was  completed,  and  before  the  next 
night  half  of  the  army  Grant  came  to  com- 
mand had  beard  it. 

It  was  soon  in  print,  and  a  copy  of  it  \t  te 
many  a  soldier's  home  to-day.  Here  it  is: 

We've  sung  the  praise  of  many  braves. 

While  marching  on  to  battle, 
Wliose  words  and  deeds  have  nerved  oar  arms 

Amid  the  muskets'  rattle; 
But  now  another  leader  comes. 

Who  er'ry  doubt  dismisses. 
With  shoot  and  song  we  welcome  him. 

The  nation's  hope,  Ulysses. 
CHOEUS—  Ulysses  leads  tne  van.    CBepeat) 
We'll  ever  dare  to  follow  where 
Ulysses  lead*  the  van. 

They  tell  of  Vick*bnrg,  where  two  yeaw 

The  rebel  flag  was  floating, 
How  Uncle  Sam  was  in  a  fix 

About  his  Western  boating, 
Until  he  learned  he  bad  a  lad 

Whose  rtfle  never  misses. 


AN    ABMY    SINGER. 


vjio  K>  to  gave  the  ugly  )ob 
To  tut  brave  boy  Ulysses. 

This  plan  tiad  failed,  and  so  bad  that. 

And  worthless  were  his  ditches; 
So  cnatter  whal  new  scheme  be  tried 

It  had  some  fatal  hitches. 
At  length  he  got  the  needed  grip. 

Winch  proved  the  legal  tender. 
"  Hold  on ! "  cried  Pern,  "  I've  got  enough  i 

I'm  ready  to  surrender!  " 

The  war  will  soon  be  over,  boys. 

And  then.  In  countless  numbers, 
We'll  go  where  drum  and  bugle  notes 

WU1  not  disturb  our  slumbers; 
A.nd  when  our  loved  ones  greet  us  home 

And  give  their  long  kept  kisses, 
We'll  ever  tell  ana  sing  the  deeds 

Of  modest,  brave  Ulysses. 

My  principal  songs,  written  in  the  Army  ol 
the  Cumberland,  are  "Old  Rosy  Is  Oar  Man," 
"Brother.  When  Will  You  Come  Back?" 
" Brajrg-a- Boo "  am)  "Peter  Butternut's  La- 
ment." most  of  them  to  old  melodies.  I  sold 
upward  9!  $20.000  worth  of  stamps.  This  cart 
of  my  mission  was  quite  hazardous,  and  in  two 
nstancos  placed  me  in  great  oeril. 

My  stamps  were  carried  in  a  large  tin  can. 
strapped  to  my  uo;ly  and  swinging  under  my 
lelt  arm.  Its  capacity  was  8500  worth.  It  was 
>  tempting  article  to  rogues  when  full,  and 
many  were  the  plans  to  capture  it,  one  of  which 
was  so  nearly  successful  that  it  cost  one  high 
wayman  his  liberty  for  an  indefinite  time. 

After  the  defeat  of  Bragg's  army,  at  Stone 
Kiver.  I  started  from  Murfreesboro'  to  replenish 
inv  can.  Arriving  at  the  Post  Ottice.  in  Nash 
vUlc,  I  learned  that  there  was  not  a  stamp  in 
the  office,  but  A  military  traiu  being  about  to 
make  the  attempt  to  reach  Louisville,  I  ob 
tainted  a  oass  and  transportation  and  pushed  on 
200  miles  farther. 

But  20  miles  beyond  Elizabeth.  K.y..  the  roads 
were  torn  an  and  the  train  went  back  to  Nash 
vtlle.  while  1.  on  foot  and  alone,  plodded  on  one 
nurht  and  a  day  toward  Lebanon  Junction, 
where  1  found  the  trains  running  as  usual  to 
'Louisville. 

But  unfortunately  l  fell  into  the  hands  ol 
a  squati  of  Morgan's  men,  who  robbed  me  of  $18. 
all  they  could  find  about  my  body  or  in  my 
satchel,  but  1  fooled  them  on  my  stamp  money, 
which  in  large  bills  was  hidden  under  a  nicely 
fitting  wig.  I  knew  the  gang  were  in  the  neigh 
borliood  ana  prepared  tor  them. 

If  the  length  of  this  sketch  will  admit,  I  think 
one  incident  of  my  field  hospital  experience 
will  greatly  interest  many  of  the  Journal  read 
era  in  Maine. 

During  the  battle  of  Malvern  Hills  I  had 
charge  of  tne  hospital  camp  at  Carter's  Landing 
about  two  miles  below  the  battle  field.  From 
3  P.  ML  till  oast  8  the  roar  of  cannon,  shells  ami 
rifles  was  terrible  to  hear,  to  say  nothing  of  the 
falling  of  those  iu  the  fight.  Before  sundown 
amliulances  and  army  wagons  came  pouring 
into  the  camp  all  laden  with  dying,  dead  or 
wounded  men. 

On  CoL  Carter's  plantation  an  immense  field 
ol  wheat  lay  in  gavel  just  as  it  came  from  the 
cradle.  With  all  the  men  I  could  secure  well 
enough  to  carry  a  bundle  of  wheat  I  bejran 


making  beds  for  the  thousands  who  would  need 
them  before  morning. 

By  7  o'clock  in  the  morning  the  camp  was 
abandoned  for  Harrison's  Landing,  two  mile* 
farther  down  the  river. 

1  had  just  reached  the  place  when  1  saw  a 
very  large  man  on  a  stretcher,  covered  with  an 
army  blanket  Thinking  it  might  be  the  l>ouy 
of  one  of  my  dead  trieuds,  I  turned  the  blanket 
from  the  face,  when  I  found  it  was  my  friend 
Capt.  Robert  Stevens  of  the  Fifth  Maine,  with  a 
bullet  hole  through  his  thigh. 

"  What  can  I  do  for  you.  Capt.  Stevens  ?  " 

"  For  God's  satce  send  me  home  to  die  with  my 
family,"  was  his  answer. 

"  1  will  try."  was  all  I  could  promise. 

A  few  rods  from  the  Captain  1  found  another 
friend,  Lieutenant  Colonel  Marsh  of  the  Six- 
teenth New  York. 

Getting  the  same  answer  to  my  same  Question 
and  making  the  same  promise.  (  started  to  see 
what  a  man  without  shoulder  straps,  or  even  a 
Corporal's  stripes,  could  do  to  send  one  man  to 
Maine  and  another  to  Governeur,  JN.  £.  to  di» 
with  their  families. 

For  a  few  minutes  1  was  bewildered,  not 
knowing  what  to  do.  Looking  down  the  James 
Kiver  1  saw  the  gunboat  Susan  Small  at  anchoi, 
tnree-quarters  of  a  mile  away.  1  knew  she  was 
a  hospital  ship,  for  I  had  drawn  supplies  from 
her  the  night  before  at  Carter's  Lauding. 

I  must  board  that  ship  at  oncel  But  bow 
was  it  to  be  done? 

At  the  pier  there  were  five  huge  boats  ol  a 
pattern  I  had  never  seen,  with  rowlocks  for 
four  oars,  but  only  one  oar  to  be  found. 

I  must  have  a  helper  to  manage  this  kind  of  a 
craft.  A  dollar  secured  a  strong  negro  for  tb« 
rest  of  the  day. 

Julius  could  row,  bat  could  not  sculL  As  we 
had  but  one  oar  the  boat  must  be  moved  by 
sculling.  Luckily  there  was  a  groove  in  th» 
stern,  ana  I  shipped  my  oar  to  make  any  tirsi 
trial  in  this  kind  ol  seamanship.  I  astonished 
myself,  and  Julius  said.  "  You  is  a  right  smart 
sailor." 

But  it  was  hard  work,  and  the  speed  very  slow 

Not  a  breath  of  wind  moved  the  surface  of  to* 
James,  and  my  hail  of  "Gunboat  Susan  Small, 
ahoy  I  was  answered  when  50  rods  away. 

The  officer  answering  my  hail,  finding  I  had 
no  orders  from  a  high  officer,  refused  my  re- 
quest to  take  these  wounded  men  on  board, 
but  when  his  steward  heard  my  name  and  told 
the  officer  that  I  was  the  man  to  whose  order  he 
issued  supplies  the  previous  nignt.  he  said: 
"  Bring  your  men  alongside  an  i  we  will  take 
them."  For  two  men  to  i  ut  a  man  on  a 
stretcher  on  one  of  these  boats  was  indeed  a 
perilous  undertaking,  but  we  did  iu 

Six  times  1  sculled  that  huge  boat  three-quai- 
ters  of  a  mile  that  afternoon  with  hands  that 
were  blistered,  before  reaching  hailing  distance 
the  first  time. 

The  ship  lelt  for  New  York  the  next  morning, 
but  the  Coiouei  died  before  reaching  port.  The 
Captain  was  spared  until  the  present  year,  dyins: 
ii>  Biddeford,  Me.,  much  honored  at  death,  as 
well  as  a  hignly  respected,  crippled  veteran  for 
30  years.  E.  W.  LOCKK. 

Chelsea,  Mass. 


162 


STORIES    OF    OUR    SOLDIERS. 


THE  BRAVE  TWENTY-EIGHTH  MASSACHUSETTS. 


The  First  Maine  Cavalry,  a  most  gallant, 
brave  and  efficient  body  of  men,  represent  that 
they  were  in  more  fights  daring  the  war  than 
any  other  body  of  cavalry,  if  not  of  any  organ- 
ization, and  I  think  they  claim  that  they  lost  as 
many  men. 

There  is  another  regiment,  from  Massachu- 
setts, which  I  think  can  claim  as  great  a  loss  of 
officers  and  men  as  the  First  Maine  Cavalry  or 
any  other  body  of  troops.  1  refer  to  the  gallant 
Twenty-eighth  Massachusetts  Volunteers,  bet- 
ter known  as  the  "Faugh-a-Ballaghs."  They 
lost  terribly  in  officers  and  men  at  James  Island, 
and  in  the  campaign  of  1864  they  were  terribly 
decjmated.  It  was  the  only  regiment  in  the 
"Irish  Brigade"  who  were  armed  with 
the  Enfield  rifles,  the  other  regiments 
of  the  brigade  in  1864— the  Sixty- 
ninth  and  Eighty-eighth  New  York— being 
armed  with  the  altered-over  Springfield 
guns— ie.,  changed  from  the  old  flintlocks  to 
the  percussion  lock  having  the  round  bullet 
with  three  buckshot  in  the  cartridge.  When 
this  regiment  went  into  the  Wilderness  they 
had  385  men  and  27  officers.  They  lost  heavily 
in  the  tangled  woods  of  the  Wilderness.  (Japt. 
Mclntyre.  a  young,  gallant,  brave  and  efficient 
officer,  was  killed  in  the  woods  on  the  first  day. 
They  went  into  the  fight  with  H*noook'i  Corps 
in  his  daylight  charge  upon  the  lines  of  the 
enemy,  and  lost  heavily.  This  fight  was  called 
the  "Hancock  daylight  charge"  (at  Spottsylva- 
via),  which  resulted  in  the  capture  of  3000  pris- 
oners and  22  pieces  of  artillery,  including  two 
general  officers— Generals  Stewart  and  Wise. 
The  gallant  Gen.  Francis  C.  Barlow  com- 
manded the  Jfirst  Division,  and  after  the  cap- 
ture of  the  earthworks  and  guns,  assisted  in 
person  to  turn  the  captured  guns  upon  the  en- 
emy. 

Again,  at  Spottsyivania  May  18  the  Twenty- 
eighth  Massachusetts  made  a  charge  ana  cap- 
tured a  line  of  earthworks  and  held  it  until 


obliged  to  tall  back.  At  this  fight  the  gallant 
"Dandy  Lawler,"  Major  Lawler  and  Cantain 
Magner  and  Captain  Corcoran  were  all  mor- 
tally wounded.  These  were  valuable  officers, 
whom  the  regiment  or  Government  coul  i  ill 
afford  to  lose.  Captain  James  Fleming,  subse- 
quently Lieutenant  Colonel  of  the  regiment, 
was  wouiule  i.  Captain.;  Annand  and  Page 
were  also  wounded.  Continuing  on  to  Cold 
Harbor  ou  the  3d  day  of  June,  1864,  just  30 
days  from  crossing  the  river  on  this  campaign, 
the  regiment  was  reduced  to  less  than. 
100  men  and  but  three  officers.  Capt. 
Nolan,  Capt.  Noyse  and  myself  being 
the  only  officers  unhurt.  At  Cold  Harbor 
we  lost  our  Colonel,  Byrnes,  who  had  but  just 
returned  Irom  recruiting  service  at  Boston,  and 
had  assumed  command  of  the  brigade.  Col, 
Byrnes  was  a  Lieutenant  of  the  United  States 
army,  detailed  and  made  Colonel  of  the  Twen- 
ty-eighth. At  Cold  ti arbor  we  also  lost  that  gal- 
lant officer.  Lieutenant  West  of  Chelsea,  who 
received  a  bullet  wound  in  the  abdomen  and  re- 
tired down  the  hill  in  a  dying  condition.  He 
died  before  reaching  hospital. 

I  do  not  think  there  was  another  regiment 
which  returned  home  at  the  end  of  the  war  with 
a  less  number  of  their  original  men  than  the 
celebrated  "  Faugh-a-Ballaiths."  After  Cold 
Harbor  I  was  detached  again  upon  the  staff  of 
the  First  Division,  Second  Corps,  commanded 
by  Major  General  F.  C.  Barlow,  and  subse- 
quently by  the  present  Major  General  Nelson 
A.  Miles.  I  shall  try  and  give  you  some  expe- 
riences from  a  staff  officer's  point  of  view  up  to 
tfie  time  of  Ream's  Station,  Aug.  25.  1864,  at 
which  time  I  received  a  wound  that  prevented 
my  following  the  army  further. 

MARTIN  BINNEY. 

Late  Captain  Twenty-eighth  Regiment,  Massa- 
chusetts Volunteers,  A.  D.  C.  First  Division. 
Second  Corps,  Army  of  the  Potomac. 
Somerville. 


FREDERICKSBURG. 


It  has  been  often  demonstrated  in  courts  of 
justice  and  elsewhere  that  either  of  two  persons 
viewing  the  same  transaction  may  observe  or 
be  impressed  differently.  There  could  hardly 
be  a  better  illustration  of  this  fact  than  is  found 
in  the  numerous  differing  accounts  of  events  in 
the  Civil  War. 

And  is  it  not  natural  enough  that  differences 
of  statements  occur  when  the  variation  of  lo- 
cality in  the  line— the  lay  of  the  land— and  of 
temperament  are  borne  in  mind?  And  do  they 
not  promise  eventually  a  more  complete  his- 
tory? 

After  a  battle  the  report  of  a  commander  of 
an  army  must  deal  with  the  more  important 
and  consolidated  subjects ;  those  of  commanders 
of  corps,  divisions,  brigades  and  separate  troops 
are  more  particular  in  detail,  and  when  ?he 
Colonel  or  other  officer  in  charge  of  a  regi- 
ment, battery,  etc..  sends  his  summary  to 
the  Adjutant  General  of  the  State  which 
his  command  represents,  more  concise  and 
succinct  records  are  made.  But,  after  all,  it 
seems  to  me,  the  many  histories  of  separate 
organizations  prepared  by  associations  of  tne 
survivors  thereof,  the  writings  relating  to  war- 
time life  and  events,  and  by  no  means  least  the 
valuable  contributions  of  indefatigable  and 
ulaauitous  war  correspondents  like  "  Carleton," 


Reid  and  others,  are  the  glossary— the  chinks 
and  cement— that  explain  and  make  whole 
erroneoui.  incomplete  and  fragmentary  ac- 
counts when  from  time  to  time  furnished. 

Much  has  been  said  and  written  of  the  battle 
of  Fredericks  bure  (Dec.  13,  1862.  more  particu- 
larly). The  afternoon  of  that  day.  with  its  death 
sweep  of  iron  and  lead  across  the  plain  in  front 
of  Marye's  Heights,  furnished  much  to  write  of. 
As  one  of  the  participants  in  the  onslaught  there, 
my  diaries  and  memory  contribute  the  follow- 
ing mite,  relating  more  particularly  to  the  part 
taken  by  the  Eighteenth  Regiment  of  our  Stata 

After  partial  recovery  from  a  wound  received 
in  a  charge  made  by  the  regiment— not  with* 
standing  a  certain  school  history  book  says  none 
of  the  Fifth  Army  Corps  was  engaged— 011  Aug. 
30, 1862,  at  Groveton  Station,  or  Gainesville.  a< 
sometimes  called,  during  the  battle  of  second 
Bull  Run.  the  writer  rejoined  his  regiment  Nov. 
10  near  Warren  ton  Junction.  Va.  On  the  way 
back  my  companions  were  two  other  wounded 
officers,  Lieut.  Pomeroy  of  tne  regular 
infantry  and  Lieut  Justin  E.  Dimick, 
Jr.,  of  the  United  States  artillery.  The 
last  named  was  a  son  of  Colonel  Justin  E. 
Dimick.  U.  S.  A.  to  whom  our  regiment  the 
Third  Massachusetts  Militia,  three  months' 


164 


STORIES   OF   OUR   SOLDIERS. 


men,  reported  at  Fortress  Monroe.  "Va..  April 
20,  1861.  Lieutenant  Dimick  was  killed  on 
Jriay  3,  1863.  directly  in  front,  of  our  line  (and 
regiment,  the  Eighteenth),  near  the  road 
north  of  "  Chancel lorsviile  House,"  where 
the  Fifth  Corps,  or  most  of  it,  was  in 
close  column  eu  masse  supporting  the  batter- 
ie«  there  collected  to  repel  one  of  the  enemy's 
atteJim.s  to  break  through  on  that  last  day  of 
hunting  in  that  splendidly  managed  campaign 
at  first,  so  badly  "  petered  out "  at  last. 

We  were  informed  at  Alexandria  that  the 
army  was  at  White  Plains.  We  found  upon  our 
arrival  there  one  army  wagon  and  a  car  side- 
tracked (at  Kectortowu),  that  was  to  carry 
General  McClellan  away  from  the  Army  of  the 
.Potomac;  an  eve.it  that  caused  a  feeling,  quite 
general,  not  compassed  by  the  word  "regret," 
lint  nearer  bordering  on  that  of  injustice. 

i  he  army  was  irom  25  to  30  miles  away.  As 
darkness  was  near  we  campeu  beneath  the 
army  wagon.  'Twas  cold.  Frozen  snow  covered 
the  ground.  We  had  no  rations,  and  all  three 
•i  us  had  uuheuled  wounds. 

The  man  fit  for  commissary  proved  to  be  Lieut. 
Pomeroy  who  fished  out  Irom  a  heap  of  broken 
Oozes  and  barrels  some  rice,  about  a  quarter 
Of  a  pound  of  pork,  and  an  old  can- 
teen when  split  made  two  frying  pans. 
The  teamster  showed  up  from  somewhere, 
we  never  knew,  next  morning,  and  we 
were  not  long  in  finding  out  that  neither  of  us 
•oulu  stand  the  jolting  of  the  army  wagon,  and 
•o  "  hoofed  it "  most  of  the  way  to  our  several 
commands.  This  little  episode  is  noted  here 

faray  for  the  purpose  of  disabusing  some  minds, 
have  heard  expressed,  of  the  notion  that 
officers  stayed  at  home,  or  in  hospitals,  as 
long  as  they  could  when  wounded.  Dimick's 
wound,  as  beiore  stated,  was  uuhealed. 
as  were  ours,  and  very  severe,  being  through 
the  shoulaer.  A  letter  just  referred  to  (Feb.  1. 
I8ti3)  is  from  a  well-known  lawyer  in  Boston, 
now  a  Justice  of  a  District  Court  in  one  of  the 
suburbs  of  the  city,  to  the  writer  at  the  front, 
complaining:  of  his  slow  recovery  from  a  severe 
Wound  received  at  Fredericksburg  preventing 
aim  from  resuming  the  command  01  his  com- 
pany in  the  Eighteenth  Massachusetts.  Such 
manifestations  of  impatience  to  return  were  not 
exceptions,  but  the  rule. 

During  the  preparations  for  the  movement  at 
Fredericksburg  the  Eighteenth  Massachusetts 
lay  in  front  of  Faimouth,  near  Stoneuian's 
•witch  and  adjacent  to  the  bridge  of  the  Acquia 
Creek  Railroad.  We  were  so  crowded  that  ails 
place  was  (Designated  as  "Camp  Smoke."  Cov- 
ering against  the  ulasts  of  winter  was  scarce 
Owing  to  the  disorganized  condition  of  railroad 
transportation.  The  best  the  officers  of 
the  line  could  do  was  to  coiurol  the 
service  of  the  small  d'Aubre  (shelter)  tents, 
which  were  a  part  of  the  camp  and  garrison 
equipage  accompanying  the  uniforms  of  the 
Chasseurs  a  Pied  awarded  the  regiment  just 


after  the  great  review  of  the  Army  of  the  Po- 
tomac at  Bailey's  Cross  Roads,  Va..  on  Jan. 
16,  1862.  The  army  which  had  recently 
marched  from  Warrenton  Junction  was 
stretched  along  the  north  banks  of  the  Rappa- 
hannock  from  a  point  about  eight  miles  out 
toward  Hartwood  Church.  Its  position  gen- 
erally is  more  fully  and  accurately  described  by 
"Carleton."  It  was  formed  in  three  grand 
divisions;  the  only  such  lormation  that  my  cir- 
cumscribed military  reading  brings  to  mind 
since  King  David,  and  his  General-in-chief, 
Joab,  tried  it  when  fighting  the  Ammonites  and 
the  mercenary  Syrians. 

The  Fifth  Corps,  commanded  by  lien.  "  Dan  " 
Butterfield,  was  in  the  centre  grand  divison, 
which  was  commanded  by  "Fighting"  Joe 
Hooker.  The  Eighteenth  Massachusetts  had 
the  right  of  the  First  Brigade  of  tne  First  Divi- 
sion ot  the  Fifth  Corps,  tue  brigade  under  com- 
mand of  Brig.  Gen.  James  Barnes,  who  as 
Colonel  took  the  Eighteenth  to  the  tront;  and 
the  regiment  under  command  of  Colonel  Jos- 
eph Hayes,  formerly  its  Major.  Regiments  had 
become  so  reduced  in  numoer  by  casualties  and 
sickness  that  the  constructions  of  briga  tea  were 
materially  changed.  For  instance,  ours— the 
First— was  comprised  of  the  Eighteenth  and 
Twentieth  Regiments  of  Massachusetts. 
with  the  Second  Company  of  Sharpshoot- 
ers from  this  State,  the  Thirteenth  and 
Twenty-fifth  New  York  Regiments, 
the  One  Hundred  and  Eighteenth  Penn- 
sylvania, known  as  the  "  Corn  Exchange " 
regiment,  the  First  Michigan  and  the  Second 
Maine  Regiments.  The  loss  in  the  brigade  in 
the  charge  made  was  500.  125  of  which  fell 
upon  the  Eighteenth  Massachusetts,  including 
two  officers  killed— Captain  Ruby,  Acting  Major 
that  afternoon,  and  Lieut  Hancock— Captain 
Coliingwood  was  mortally  wounded  and  six 
otner  oftioers  were  wounded,  i.  e..  Captain 
Charles  H.  Drew,  and  Lieuts.  Hemmeuway, 
Winsor,  Hanley.  Walker  and  the  writer. 

About  this  time  there  was  considerable  feel- 
ing among  the  troops,  not  freely  expressed  pub- 
licly, because  of  the  removal  of  McClellan  and 
the  proceedings  again-4  Gan.  Fitz  John  Porter, 
our  corps  commander,  up  to  the  time  ot  and  a 
little  after  tue  close  of  the  Bull  Run  battles, 
when  he  was  succee  led  by  General  Hooker.  It 
was  common  rumor,  too.  that  Gen.  Burnside  did 
not  desire  the  command  of  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac. 

Early  in  the  movement  out  to  the  hills  in 
front  of  Fredericksburg.  it  was  current  in  our 
regiment  that  the  First  Division  of  our  corps 
was  to  be  held  in  reserve  for  use  at  the  critical 
juncture — and  it  c.tme. 

The  efficiency  in  drill  and  discipline  wasnever 
better  than  then. 

We  were  not  sent  across  the  river  till  late  in 
the  day.  From  our  position  on  the  north  bank 
we  had  a  view  of  operations  over  there  in  our 
immediate  front,  and  partly  of  those  to 
the  right  and  left  of  the  centre 
grand  division,  respectively  under  the  man- 


FREDERICKSBURG . 


187 


agement  ot  Generals  sumner  ana  rranklin. 
Here  perhaps  it  may  be  excusable  to  interpolate 
an  incident  illustrative  of  a  phase  of  army  life. 
When  the  assembly  was  sounded  for  the  brigade 
to  "fall  in,"  I  was  at  the  left  of  it  conversing 
with  Sergeant  Orcutt  of  the  Secon  I  Maine. 
We  both  hurried  to  our  places,  widely  apart, 
the  Eighteenth  as  state  I  being  on  the  right. 
In  the  spring  of  1864.  when  1  was  serving  aa 
Adjutant  of  the  Draft  rendezvous  for  Delaware 
ana  Maryland,  Lafayette  Barracks,  Baltimore,  a 
gentleman,  a  clerk  in  the  War  Department. 
walked  into  my  quarters.  It  was  Orcutt.  When 
•vening  came  the  conversation  naturally  em- 
braced eacb  other's  "luck"  after  parting  at 
Fredericksburg.  lo  my  inquiry  if  he  was 
wounded  tbere,  he  took  out  one  of  his  eyes  and 
passed  it  to  me.  The  member,  and  almost  the 
other  one.  he  had  lost  while  passing  through 
that  awfnl  hole,  the  railroad  cut  in  rear  of  the 
city.  The  skillful  substitution  of  a  glass  eye 
had  escaped  my  notice  during  the  day. 

Marye's  Heights  were  crowned  with  artillery. 
There  was  also  a  heavy  gun  in  a  redoubt  dia- 
gonally towards  Sumner's  front  that  worried  as 
terribly  when  passing  through  the  railroad  out. 
Lower  down  the  heights  was  a  line  of  the  enemy's 
infantry  and  some  artillery,  but  we  knew 
nothing  of  the  division  of  the  enemy  in  the 
sunk  road  behind  a  wall  until  a  sheet  of  flame 
burst  therefrom  at  short  range.  All  but  this  we 
could  see.  It  was  and  had  been  to  us  a  fearful 
panorama.  We  had  watched  the  advance  and 
recoil  of  columns  from  our  waiting  spot  on  the 
other  side;  had  beheld  with  mingled  feelings 
of  hope  and  tear  the  rolling  smoke  of  battle 
above  the  woods  away  to  the  left,  where  Gan. 
Meade  of  Franklin's  command  was  rolll*-*"  ap 
the  right  flank  of  the  enemy  like  a  blaulet. 
only  to  be  repulsed  for  want  of  support,  while 
to  our  right,  and  partly  within  our  range  of 
vision,  ftumner's  artillery  and  infantry  were 
keeping  UP  an  incessant  roar. 

Th«  assembly  is  sounded.  Our  time  has  coma 
Though  late,  the  work  will  be  speedy;  bloody. 

Crossing  the  pontoon  bridge  at  the  lower  end 
of  the  oity.  death  and  desolation  strikes  the  vis- 
ion in  every  direction.  Dead  men,  rebel  and 
Union,  the  skirt*  ot  their  blouses  thrown  over 
their  faces  by  some  kindly  hand  in  many  in- 
stances, lay  in  doorways,  yards  and  upon  the 
sidewalks. 

We  moved  some  distance  westerly  through 
the  street,  and  then  filed  off  to  the  left  for  the 
open  in  rear. 

When  passing  through  the  city  there  were  in- 
cidents to  be  laughed  at  under  ordinary  circum- 
stances. Shot  and  shell  from  the  reuel  batteries 
cut  queer  capers.  One  goes  through  a  house, 
and  evidently  a  fl.>ur  barrel,  100;  and  as  it 
crosses  the  street  a  little  in  front  of  us  it  has, 
comet  fashion,  a  nebuiae  of  flour  for  a  tail.  An 
old  negro  woman,  a  dog  with  his  fore  paws  upon 
her  shoulders.  Is  on  a  door-stoop  singing  and 


clapping  her  bonds  as  if  the  millennium  had 
arrived. 

After  passing  through  the  city  oar  coarse  was 
diagonally  and  westerly  toward  the  front  about 
60  rods.  1  should  judge  toward  the  front  of 
Gen.  Sumner's  division.  In  this  move  we  were 
compelled  to  scramble  through  and  over  a 
boarded  sluiceway,  after  passing  which  the 
brigade  was  halted,  there  being  a  rise  of  ground 
in  our  front  of  three  or  four  feet.  Soon  the 
order  was  given  to  "charge!"  The  touch  of 
the  elbow  was  well  maintained  till  on  the  ex- 
treme right  the  company  to  which  the  writer 
was  assigned  for  that  occasion  only  being  the 
extreme  right  was  confronted  ny  a  substantial 
board  fence,  which  was  being  made  a  "  skim- 
mer "  of  ;> v  rebel  ballets.  The  boys  ha  1  larger 
holes  through  it  in  less  time  than  it  takes  to 
tell  01  it,  but  it  split  our  company,  Lieut.  Win- 
sor,  who  was  in  command,  having  one  part,  and 
the  writer  the  other,  until  after  we  had  p  issei 
a  house  standing  alone  farther  oat  in  the  field, 
and  uehind  which  wounded  men  swarma  i  for 
such  protection  against  the  fearful  cannonade 
and  musketry  fire  as  it  might  furnish.  As  this 
very  circumstance  has  a  bearing  upon  a  con- 
troversy in  other  quarters,  I  dwell  more  minute- 
ly upon  it 

It  should  for  this  purpose  be  remembered 
that  the  Eighteenth  Massachusetts  had  the  ex- 
treme right  of  the  line  in  this  charge,  and  the 
company  to  which  the  writer  was  attached  was 
the  right  flank  company  of  the  regiment.  Tha 
conformation  of  tne  ground  was  such  towards 
the  left  as  to  allow  the  Eighteenth  to  go  con- 
si'  lerably  further  before  receiving  the  enemy's 
fire  from  behind  the  wall  than  regiments  to  the 
left  of  it.  From  my  position  1  plainly  saw  from 
30  to  50  rebels  on  the  north  side  of  the  wall, 
just  as  if  their  line  was  straight  and  extended 
over  a  bend  in  the  wall.  Of  this  I  am  certain 
for  just  at  the  point  of  char-ring  this  squad 
Which  was  further  to  our  right  than  our  line,  J 
was  wounded.  1  believe  tbe  Corporal  (Guild) 
Who  was  with  me  at  this  juncture  is  yet  living 
and  can  verify  the  correctness,  in  the  main 
features,  of  this  statement. 


Wnen  crawling  from  the  field,  ballets  from 
somewhere  came  so  near  my  head,  throwing 
mud  in  my  face  even,  1  rolled  over  as  if  dead 
among  a  very  well  defined  line  of  corpses. 
They  were  men  of  Meagher's  brigade,  and  had 
the  emblematic  green  trimmings  on  them. 

Finally  I  reached  a  point  at  the  rear,  near 
where  we  started  to  charge. 

The  second  brigade  was  in  line  there.  And 
I  would  like  to  in  ert  here  the  inquiry  as  to 
who  the  officer  of  the  Ninth  Massachusetts 
was  that  seat  two  men  over  the  slope  who 
carried  me  behind  a  bricK  kiln  and  "braced 
me  up." 

1  would  like  to  meet  him  if  he  lived  through ; 
and  expect  to  if  he's  dead. 


1  f,8 


STORIES    OF    OUR    SOLDIERS. 


The  result  ot  this  sanguinary  charge  was  just 
»boat  what  the  men  thought  it  would  be.  But 
they  went  in  without  a  murmur. 

The  following  from  the  New  York  Herald 
refers  to  the  oart  taken  by  the  Eighteenth: 

••«  *  *  xhe  Eighteenth  Massachusetts  ad- 
vanced gallantly  under  a  terrific  lire  of  two 
•concentrating  batteries,  advancing  some  200 
Daces  nearer  the  rebel  batteries  and  line  of 
battle  tnan  Meagher's  Irish  Brigade  had  been 
able  to  go.  A  second  charge  was  also  made,  and 
when  ordered  to  retire  they  brought  back  their 
wounded  and  also  their  tattered  colors." 

Poor  Lieutenant  Walker.  He  has  left  us.  Af- 
ter varying  experiences  he  and  I  fetched  up 
next  day  in  a  tent  in  the  lee  of  a  hill  on  the 
north  side  of  the  river,  where  they  were  cutting 
off  lesrs  and  arms,  etc.— a  temporary  affair.  We 
had  brooms  for  crutches.  The  missile  that  nit 
him  made  an  awful  hole,  so  that  he  would  hare 


been  obliged  to  "  stand  up  *  at  the  dining  table, 
if  there  were  any  such  thereabouts,  for  some 
time  co  come.  Walker  insisted  that  the  rebel 
who  shot  him  must  hare  fired  with  the  bullet 
the  wormer. 

Our  wounds  had  not  received  attention.  The 
sheet-iron  stove  had  attractions.  The  loss  of 
blood  and  the  heat  combined  took  the  remain- 
ing strength  out  of  his  legs,  and  over  he  went 
"all  in  a  heap."  I  was  leaning  on  some  medi- 
cine chest*,  whereon  were  the  surgeon  "  tools" 
and  medicines.  Noticing  a  bottle  of  ammonia 
I  grabbed  it,  forgot  for  the  moment  that  I  too 
had  a  "  g ame  "  leg,  and.  white  trying  to  stoop 
over  to  revive  him,  fell  upon  him,  pouring  the 
liquid  into  his  mouth,  eyes,  ear*  and  nostrils. 
He  revived  1  Was  there  scientific  swearing  in 
Flanders?  You  should  have  heard  Lieutenant 
\Valker. 

K.  W.  EVERSON. 


LIEUTENANT    NEWCOMB    SAVING   THE   COLORS,    MARYE's    HEIGHTS. 


A  WAR  ANNIVERSARY. 


Thirty  years  ago,  December  13,  Burnside's 
army  crossed  the  Rappahannock  and  brought  on 
the  battle  of  rredericksburg.  Thirty  years  ago! 
What  veteran  can  realize  such  a  lapse  of  time 
since  the  occurrence  of  an  event  every  incident 
of  which  to  him  who  participated  in  it  seems— 
or  so  seems  to  the  writer — as  iresh  and  vivid  as 
though  it  all  happened  but  yesterday  I  A  re- 
markable battle  it  was  in  some  features  that 
distinguished  it  from  battles  in  general. 

The  tudden  shock  of  hostile  forces  unexpect- 
edly meeting  at  the  intersection  of  lines  of 
march,  as  at  Gettysburg;  the  rapid  overtaking 
of  the  enemy,  checking  his  advance  and  com- 
pelling him  to  turn  at  bay  like  a  cornered  rat, 
as  at  Antietam ;  the  halting  of  a  flying  army  in 
full  retreat  and  the  tremendous  impact  of  ad- 
vancing columns,  as  at  Second  Bull  Run ;  each 
event  bringing  on*  the  clash  of  arms  with 
scarcely  an  interval  for  thought— the  serried 
ranks  being  precipitated  upon  each  other  in  tho 
excitement  and  fervor  of  hot  passion  and  under 
the  spur  of  suddenly  aroused  comt>ativeness— a 
slap  in  the  face  as  it  were,  awaking  ready  re- 
sentment and  quick  reprisal— all  this  was 
vastly  different  from  lying  for  days, 
ingloriously  inactive,  awaiting*  the  means 
to  cross  a  broad  river,  beyond  whose 


watery  barrier  tantalizingly  stretched  an  unob- 
structed path  to  the  goal  that  had  so  often  and 
so  mockingly  eluded,  so  to  speak,  our  oersistent 
and  bloody  endeavors  to  attain  it:  beholding  a 
position  of  incalculable  importance  invitinir 
peaceful  occupancy,  gradually  being  covered 
by  a  hostile  army,  while  we.  in  enforced  idle- 
ness, witnessed  day  by  day  the  augmentation  of 
the  enemy'*  forces  and  noted  his  busy  toil  and 
strenuous  preparations  to  strengthen  ami  render 
impregnable  a  vantage  ground  formidable 
enough  in  its  natural  naked  ruggedness. 

Such  were  the  days  of  anxious  an  1  harassing 
contemplation  during  thai  interval  '*  between 
the  enacting  of  a  dreadful  thing  and  the  first 
motion,"  as  the  Federal  army  lay  alon  :  the 
Stafford  and  Falmonth  Heights  waiting  for  the 
pontoon  trains,  which  seemingly  were  never  to 
arrive,  and  for  the  word  to  "  forward  "  from  its 
commander. 

But  at  last  the  pontoons  came,  the  bridge  - 
were  laid,  and  on  Friday,  the  12th  of  December, 
the  advance  of  the  army  proceeded  to  cross. 

My  individual  reminiscences  are  confined  to 
the  battle  on  the  left,  "  part  of  which  I  was.  and 
all  of  which  I  saw."  Our  regiment— the  Thir- 


170 


STORIES   OF   OUR   SOLDIERS. 


teenth  Massachusetts— had  from  its  organiza- 
tion developed  an  adaptability  for  light  in  i  an  try 
tactics  second  to  none  in  the  army,  its  effective- 
ness due  partly  to  its  personnel  and  largely  to 
the  fact  that  our  Colonel  (now  General  Samuel 
H.  Leonard  of  Worcester)  was  one  of 
the  best  and  most  indefatigable  masters  of  drill 
in  the  service.  So  we  were  perfectly  at  home 
when,  on  reaching  the  southern  »ank  of  the 
river,  we  were  deployed  as  skirmishers.  Not 
an  enemy  was  at  first  in  sight,  and.  unliKe  the 
experience  of  our  comrades  on  the  right,  our 
crossing  was  unopposed. 

As  the  bugles  sounded  to  advance,  the  long 
line  of  skirmishers  stepped  briskly  forward, 
until  passing  over  a  rising  ground  the  broad 
plain,  whose  present  smiling  an  i  peaceful 
aspect  was  in  less  than  twenty-four  hours  to  be 
disturbed  by  the  horrid  din  and  turmoil  of  con- 
tending armies,  l.urst  upon  the  view. 

Bisecting  this  plain  could  be  seen  a  long  row 
of  evergreen  trees  planted  at  wide  intervals 
apart  on  an  embankment,  indicating  one  of 
those  beautiful  roadways  for  which  this  section 
•C  the  Old  Dominion  is  justly  celebrated.  It 
•was  the  famous  Bowling  Green  or  Richmond 
like. 

And  now.  midway  of  the  plain  and  against 
this  dark  background,  suddenly  emerged  into 
view  an  opposing  line  of  gray-clad  riflemen— 
the  enemy  was  before  us,  prepared,  apparently, 
to  dispute  the  right  ot  way. 

In  appearance  only,  however,  for  as  we  ad- 
vanced the  "Johnnies"  slowly  retreated  and 
we  wonderingly  saw  them  clamber  over  the 
roadbank  and  disappear.  Thus  far  not  a  shot 
bad  oeen  fired,  which  told  to  each  side  that  the 
opposing  force  was  composed  of  veteran  troops 
with  nerves  top  well  schooled  to  lose  self-con- 
trol, forget  discipline  and  become  "rattled  "  at 
tiie  first  sight  of  an  enemy. 

Undoubtedly  each  man's  pulse  was  a  little 
quickened,  as  we  drew  nearer  and  nearer,  at  the 
seeming  certainty  that  behind  the  frowning 
embankment  hundreds  of  death-dealing  tubes 
were  leveled  at  us :  but 

sounded  the  oucries,  and  on  we  went,  mounted 
the  bank  and  through  the  gaps  in  the  cedars  be- 
held our  foe  slowly  retiring  behind  a  ridge  of 
land  on  the  other  side  of  the  road  and  which  ran 
for  a  long  distance  parallel  with  it. 

Once  in  the  roadway  the  uugles  signaled  to 
bait,  and  the  strain  upon  both  moral  and  physi- 
cal powers  was  relaxed  for  the  present  at  least. 

An  incident,  or  rather  a  series  of  incidents, 
•ot  uncommon  in  similar  situations  later  in  the 
war.  but  oi  which  I  believe  this  was  among  the 
first,  marked  our  occupation  of  the  Bowling 
Green  road.  It  was  apparent  that  the  Con- 
federates had  established  theii  outposts  along 
the  parallel  ridge  in  front  of  us;  and  it  soon  be- 
came equally  evident  that  the  battle  was  not  to 
bejoine  I  that  dav.  and  that  our  skirmish  line 
wan  as  far  advanced  as  was  practicable  without 
precipitating  an  engagement. 

All  remained  quiet  in  our  front:  not  a  shot 
had  been  fired,  and  a  mutual  understanding  not 
to  begin  hostilities  appeared  to  have  been  es- 


tablished in  some  indefinable  way  between  the 
two  picket  lines.  Moreover,  from  time  to  time 
a  Confederate  would  come  out  a  few  paces  from 
tbe  ridge  and  shout  some  good-natured  badi- 
nage at  us,  to  which  we  responded  in  a  strain 
Ditched  to  the  same  tune. 


At  length  a  "gravback"  was  seen  to  advance, 
waving  a  handkerchief  and  offering  to  meet  one 
of  "you-uns"  halt  way  for  a  friendly  confab.  A 
ready  response  greeted  the  proposal,  and  one  of 
the  Thirteenth  was  soon  sent  forth  with  a  well- 
filled  naversack  containing  sugar,  coffee,  salt 
and  hart  tack,  the  joint  contribution  of  his 
messmates. 

The  advance  of  the  friendly  foes,  deliberately, 
timed  so  that  they  would  meet  at  a  point  equi- 
distant from  either  line,  was  eagerly  and  excit- 
edly watched  by  both  sides.  As  the  men  neared 
each  other  they  were  seen  to  extend  a  welcom- 
ing hand,  and  then  as  the  palms  of  "Johnnie" 
and  "Yank"  met  in  a  fraternal  grasp  an  elec- 
tric thrill  went  straight  to  the  heart  of  every 
beholder. 

Such  a  wild,  prolonged  and  hearty  cheer,  «ach 
a  blending  of  Yankee  shout  and  rebel  yell  as 
swelled  up  irorn  the  opposing  lines  was  neyer 
before  heard  even  in  battle  1  The  contents  of 
the  haversack  were  soon  transferred  to  the  ad- 
venturous reb.,  who  in  turn  loaded  our  man 
down  with  native  tobacco  and  bacon. 

As  the  afternoon  wore  on  numerous  similar 
affairs  occurred,  the  utmost  good  fellowship  be- 
ing manifested.  It  was  learned  that  our  imme- 
diate opponents  were  the  Nineteenth  Georgia 
Regiment;  they  told  us  that  they  had  tasted 
neither  coffee,  sugar  nor  salt  for  months. 


We  were  fated  to  meet  a  large  part  of  this  reg- 
iment later  on  the  next  day,  but  as  prisoners — 
and  very  cheerful  ones,  too— taken  at  the  first 
charge  of  our  line.  They  were  as  fine  a  set  of 
fellows,  tor  rebels,  as  we  ever  met  during  the 
war — intelligent,  in  short,  excellent  specimens 
of  American  manhood,  among  them  being  a 
graduate  of  Harvard  College,  whose  name  I 
nave  iorgoiten. 

All  that  night  we  remained  on  picket;  no 
quieter  night  was  ever  passed  in  winter  quar- 
ters. But  at  daylight  the  stir  and  bustle  and 
hurried  movements,  the  steady  tramp  of  men. 
mingled  with  the  vibrations  of  artillery  wheels 
and  rumbling  of  heavily  loaded  ammunition 
wagons,  betokening  an  army  on  tbe  march, 
were  borne  along  on  the  morning  breeza 


It  was  not  far  from  8  o'clock,  I  think,  that  the 
division  of  Pennsylvania  Reserves  came  up, 
and  immediately  their  pioneers  attacked  with 
axe,  pick  and  shovel  the  road  i>ank  and  soon  a 
sufficient  space  was  cut  out  for  the  passage  of 
the  troops  and  artillery.  The  impression  will 
never  leave  me  of  the  advance  of  the  leading 
brigade  as  in  close  column  it  marched  gallantly 
out  upon  the  open  plain.  The  movement  was 
evidently  a  blander,  for  while  they  were  still 
in  motion  Gen.  Meade,  at  that  time  command- 


AMERICANS    AND    BROTHERS. 


171 


A    WAR    ANNIVERSARY. 


173 


i*K  the  division,  attended   by  his  staff,  rode  up 
to  the  Rao,  pausing  there  to  survey  the  field. 

As  I  stood  at  my  elevated  cost  on  the  embank- 
ment 1  could  have  touched  him  by  extending 
my  arm.  tie  sat  his  horse  for  a  moment,  and 
then  excitedly  raising  both  hands,  in  a  gesture 
•f  despair,  cried: 

"Good   Godl    How   came   that  brigade  out 
Mere?    No  artillery — no   supports!    They  will 
fee  cut  to  pieces  I  " 

And  then  he  quickly  dispatched  an  ai'le  with 
some  order  to  the  imperiled  troops,  who  were 
seen  to  h  istily  deploy,  and  another  to  hasten  up 
a  battery  which  soon  came  thundering  through 
the  gap  and  unlimhered  just  as  a  single  shot 
•aim:  plunging  along  from  the  ooposite  woods 
followed  by  crash  aftnr  crash  from  the  rebel 
runs,  an  i  the  air  was  filled  with  the  shrieks  of 
flying  shells  and  solid  shot! 

The  battle  on  the  left  baa  begun. 

Our  division— Gibbon's— was  being  formed  to 
the  right  of  Meade.  and  at  this  moment,  and  in 
die  midst  of  this  storm  of  shot  and  shell,  we 
werehurriel  in  that  direction  and  thrown  out 
t»  cover  the  former's  position. 

Meanwhile  the  rebels  had  withdrawn  down 
the  slope  and  along  the  railroa-i  track,  and  the 
jldge  just  relinquished  was  now  occupied  by  our 
skirmishers.  The  "picnic "of  the  day'  before 
wan  evidently  not  to  be  repeated;  a  bloody 
struggle  was  before  us. 

1  remember  how  fair  a  morning  it  was.  how 
'balmy,  even  though  in  the  midst  of  December. 
•was  the  air.  and  how  cheerful  the  sunshine  aa 
we  moved  out  and  took  our  station  along  the 
ridge,  hearing  at  the  same  time  the  furious 
battle  that  was  raging  on  the  right,  and  eye  wit- 
nesses of  the  obstinate  and  bloody  tight  that 
Meade  was  making  on  our  left. 

But  now  our  own  part  of  the  field  was  to  be  in- 
volved. On  a  rising  ground  at  our  rear  Hall's 
Maine  battery  had  gone  into  position,  and  now 
his  guns  began  to  play  over  our  heads  into  the 
woo'ls  that  partially  screened  the  Confederate 
works. 

"We  were  forced  to  lie  down,  for  the  Federal 
missiles  came  perilously  low.  Hall  being  com- 
pel le<i  to  depress  his  pieces  in  order  to  throw  a 
plunging  tire  into  the  enemy's  line.  As  an 
illustration  of  our  danger  from  this  source,  fol- 
lowing the  discharge  of  one  of  the  Maine  guns, 
we  heard  a  terrific  screech  down  the  skirmish 
line,  and  suddenly  beheld  a  knapsacR  hurled  into 
the  air  and  one  of  our  boys— of  Company  H,  I 
think— was  borne  to  the  rear,  dying,  we  were  told, 
on  the  way.  A  shell  had  torn  through  his  side. 

A  rebel  battery  posted  in  the  edge  of  the  woods 
was  severely  annoying  our  line  of  battle,  which 
was  lying  down  behind  us  waiting  for  the  word 
to  go  into  action,  when  Hall,  suddenly  concen- 
trating the  tire  of  all  his  guns  on  that  point, 
•ffectually  silenced  the  rebel  cannon.  During 
the  momentary  lull  that  followed  this  achieve- 
ment ail  eyes  were  at  once  directed  toward  the 


silenced  battery  by  a  terrific  explosion,  followed 
by  the  unique  spectacle  of  an  enormous  and 
pertectly  symmetrical  ring  of  smoke  risinsr 
slowly  over  the  tops  of  the  trees  and  sailing 
gracefully  away  until  it  became  dissipated  in 
the  distance. 

Hall's  last  shot  had  exploded  a  rebel  caisson, 
killing  and  wounding,  as  was  afterward 
learned,  a  large  number  of  men. 

But  meanwhile  we  skirmishers  were  not  idle. 
The  rebel  sharpshooters  ha  I  ensconced  them- 
selves among  the  limbs  of  the  opposite  trees, 
and  were  popping  away  at  us  and  picking  off 
the  officers  in  the  line  of  battle  behind.  Oiu* 
own  rifles  were  hot  with  co  slant  firing,  and 
every  tree  thai  sheltered  a  "Johnny  "  was  made 
the  billet  for  many  a  bullet.  What  execution 
our  shooting  did,  as  a  whole,  it  was  liar  I  to  tell. 
We  now  and  then  saw  a  reb  slide  down  from  his 
cover  atid  limp  away:  hut  it  was  at  least  equally 
effective,  if  not  more  so.  than  that  of  the  enemy, 
for  as  we  lay  at  the  regulation  distance  of  five 
paces  auart  the  intervening  ground  w»s  literal- 
ly pepuered  with  hostile  lead,  i  ut  up  to  a  cer- 
tain period  not  one  of  us  had  received  a  scratch. 

My  immediate  neighbor  on  the  left  was  N.  M. 
Putnam,  late  of  Hyde  Park,  whom  we,  his  few 
surviving  comrades,  sadly  bore  to  his  last  rest- 
ing place  at  Forest  Hill,  only  last  spring.  "Put," 
as  he  was  familiarly  called,  wan  the  model  of  a 
soldier:  one  of  those  men  of  sturdy  JNew  Eng- 
land build,  morally  and  physically,  always 
ready  for  any  duty,  and  who  could  never  ac- 
quire apparently  the  first  principles  of  the  art 
of  shirking,  whether  it  was  that  of  the  most 
disagreeable  police  duty  or  the  more  dangerous 
one  of  keeping  his  tile  in  the  face  of  bursting 
•hell  and  a  storm  of  leaden  hail;  presenting, 
moreover,  the  rare  example  of  an  old  soldier 
who  never  drank  a  drop  of  intoxicating  liquor, 
never  smoked  or  chewed  tobacco,  was  abso- 
lutely insensible  to  the  facinatlons  of  ooker.  loo 
or  seven-up,  and  was  never  known  to  indulge  in 
even  the  mildest  and  most  innocuous  cuss  word. 

It  happened,  on  this  of  all  davs.  to  be  "Put's" 
turn  to  carry  the  mess  wash-basin,  a  new  and 
glittering  affair  recently  bought  of  the  sutler. 

We  ah  had  our  knapsacks  on,  an  1  as  we  lay 
on  our  bellies— firing  in  that  position,  turning 
sideways  to  load— it  might  have  been  thought 
that  such  an  object,  slung  on  the  back  of  a 
knapsack,  would  afford  a  first-class  mark  for  a 
Southern  rifleman. 

We  noticed,  indeed,  but  without  divining  the 
cause,  that  the  shots  were  coming  a  little 
thicker  and  faster  about  the  particular  spot 
where  we  lay,  until  a  "  hucktail" — one  of  the 
famous  Pennsylvania  regiment  so  named  be- 
cause they  bad  adopted  the  device  of  wearing  a 
buck's  tail  on  their  caps— who  was  next  to  ma 
on  the  ri-rht.  sang  out: 

"Tell  that  cuss  to  take  that  d tin    pan 

off  'm  his  bade  I" 

I  passed  the  warning    to    "  Put "   just   at  the 


174 


STORIES    OF    OUR    SOLDIERS. 


moment  when  there  came  the  sharp  pish  of  a 
bullet,  accompanied  by  a  slight  tintinnabula- 
tion—I am  sure  that  must  be  the  right  word  or 
it — an' I  "Put"  hastily  tore  off  the  ba^in.  Such 
a  comical  look  of  stupefied  consternation  came 
over  his  face  as  be  held  up  the  bright  object 
and  exhibited  a  jagged  hole  completely  through 
it,  that  we  who  beheld  it  fairly  yelle  i  with 
laughter.  The  next  instant,  with  a  frantic 
gesture.  "Put"  threw  the  thing  from  him,  and 
it  rolled  with  many  a  grotesque  gyration  down 
the  slope  almost  to  the  rel>el  lines.  That  was 
close  shootinar,  and  we  Northern  veterans  have 
good  reason  not  to  deny  the  abilities  of  "our 
mends  the  enemy  "  in  that  line.  We  nil  re- 
member the  characteristic  story  of  the  Northern 
traveler  who  witnessed  the  Kentucky  lad  snoot 
a  squirrel  dead  with  his  pea-bore  rifle  and  who 
began  to  blubber  on  examining  his  prize. 
"What's  the  matter,  my  boy?  Why  do  you 
cry?"  "Pap  will  give  me  a  lickinr  'cause  I 
didn't  shoot  the  varmint  through  the  head  1 " 

But  now  a  sudden  commotion  In  the  rear,  and 
the  spun  1  of  our  bugles  to  fall  back,  told  that 
our  long,  harassing  and  nerve-wearing  duty 
was  finished. 


Grandly  came  forward  our  line  of  battle,  and 
the  New  York  Ninth,  whose  front  we  had  been 
covering— the  nonle.  gallant,  whole-souled  i  ors 
of  Brooklyn  and  New  York  city,  with  whom  w« 
had  fraternize  I  since  the  early  days  of  '61,  and 
between  whom  and  the  old  Thirteenth  a  perfect 
Damon  and  Pythias  tie  subsisted — opened  its 
ranks  to  permit  us  to  pass  through,  an<l  them 
with  a  word  of  cheer  that  involuntarily  partook 
perhaps  of  the  nature  of  an  adieu,  we  pa>se  i  t» 
the  rear. 

A  minute,  five  minutes,  perhaps  more,  per* 
haps  less,  tor  who  can  measure  time  at  such  a 
moment?  ana  then  a  flame  of  tiro  and  a  cloud 
of  smoke  shrouded  them  from  our  view,  as 
volley  after  volley  of  musketry,  punctuated  by 
the  deep  diapason  of  cannon  and  bursting  shell, 
thundered  and  echoe  I  over  the  plain. 

The  advance  and  the  retreat,  the  repeated 
charges  and  final  bloody  repulse,  the  brave, 
stand  up  fight  our  boys  made,  the  useless,  pur- 
poseless holocaust — all  this  is  history,  engraven 
forever  on  tbe  hearts  of  ttie  American  peopla 

And  ao,  for  us  of  the  Thirteenth,  ended  the 
battle  on  the  left. 

GEORGE  E.  Jcrsoir. 


A    LITTLE    CAMP    FUN. 


When  the  Fourth  Battalion  of  Rifles  was 
growing  into  the  Thirteenth  Infantry  (GoL 
Leonard)  at  Fort  Independence,  ihe  boys  be- 
Kuiied  the  tedium  of  garrison  duty  and  rill 
with  some  pronounce-1  horse  play,  of  which 
some  of  the  most  popular  comrades  were  vic- 
tims. Early  one  morning  Capu  Fox,  atterwarct 
Mayor  of  Cambridge,  was  suddenly  aroused 
from  sleep  by  a  deiuge  of  water  which  covered 
him  and  his  bed.  It  was  to  be  expected  that 
the  Captain  would  arise,  shake  himself  and  put, 
to  blush  the  proiane  army  in  Flanders,  but  the 
lurking  witnesses  of  his  discomfiture  were  dis- 
appointed. He  only  turned  over  and  remarked 
to  himself,  sotto  voce,  and  with  characteristic 
deliberation:  "Somebody,  doubtless  by  acci 
1 1  cm,  has  spilled  some  water."  Lieut  H.  T. 
Kockwell.  who  chanced  to  hear  the  observation 
anil  reported  it  with  "ghoulish  glee."  might 
have  been  able  to  tell  who  spilled  the  water. 

The  writer  of  this  belonged  to  a  regiment  the 
members  of  which  received  a  good  many  boxes 
of  dainties  from  solicitous  friends  in  Boston  and 
vicinity,  where  they  enlisted.  Whether  or  not 


those  dainties  included  some  actual  seed  cakes, 
the  Forty-fourth  ere  long  acquired  among,  pos- 
sibly, envious  comrades  of  other  battalions.  the 
ignominious  cognomen  of  "  Seed  Cake  Regi- 
ment." In  one  of  Gen  Butler's  Gubernatorial 
campaigns  he  erroneously  transferred  this  ap- 
peuation  to  the  Forty-fifth,  of  which  one  of  his 
political  foes.  CoL  Codman.  had  ueen  the  gal- 
lant leader.  The  mistake.  1  think,  was  duly 
corrected  before  the  end  of  the  canvass,  but  it 
was  probably  never  generally  known  that  the 
title  was  the  invention  of  a  soldier  of  the  Forty- 
fourth  itself,  the  same  incorrigible  wag.  in  fact, 
who.  while  Newbern  wasundersiejje,  circulated 
the  exclusive  information  amonz  his  comrades 
that  the  commander  ot  the  rebel  force  bad  noti- 
fied Gen.  Fo>ter  to  remove  the  women  and 
children  and  the  Forty-fourth  Regiment  from 
the  town,  as  he.  the  rebel  comman  .er.  was 
about  to  make  an  assault.  Notwithstanding 
all  this  and  more,  Dave  Howard  of  Company  D 
was  not  without  warm  friends  and  admirers  IB 
the  regiment  of  his  lampoons.  Z.  T.  HAIMKS 


HEROIC    MOTHER     AND    A    HEROIC    SON. 


The  first  member  to  die  of  Company  E  of  the 
Thirty-third  was  Private  George  Osborn«  of 
Manchester.  Mass,  he  was  the  son  of  a  widow. 
th«  last  of  a  family  of  five  boys.  If  1  remember 
rightly  all  had  died  in  the  army.  His  mother 
learned  he  ha  I  enlisted  in  my  company,  and 
wrote  me  he  was  the  last  of  her  five  boys.  As 
he  was  young,  she  desired  me  to  look  after  his 
welfare  as  much  as  possible.  He  was  taken  sick 
near  Fairfax  Court  House  and  sent  to  the  hos- 
pital thera  A  few  days  after  the  regiment  was 
ordered  to  Thoroughfare  Gap.  When  young 
Osborne  heard  the  regiment  had  left.  be.  with 


some  others,  left  the  hospital  and  came  on  after, 
reaching  the  regiment  late  at  night.  I  was  in- 
formed of  his  arrival,  aud  went  to  his  tent  to 
see  him. 

I  toid  him  he  should  have  remained  in  the  hos- 
pital till  he  got  stronger,  but  he  said  he  thought 
he  would  be  ab»e  to  keep  with  the  company  and 
had  rather  die  with  the  regiment  than  be  left 
in  the  hospital.  No  one  who  has  noi  Ueen  in  the 
army  knows  how  bard  it  was  for  those  young 
soldiers  to  be  left  in  the  hospital  sicK  among  the 
sick  and  dying,  with  no  friends  to  cheer  them. 
While  having  our  morning  company  drill  the 


MEAGHER  S    ADDRESS    AT    FREDERIOKSBURG. 


177 


next  morning  word  was  brought  me  young  Os- 
borne  was  dead,  1  was  utterly  astonished,  hav- 
ing no  idea  tie  was  so  low.  He  had  used  up  all 
his  strength  to  reach  the  regiment  and  just 
sank  right  away  and  die'l  before  morning. 

Orders  reached  us  that  morning  to  march 
back  to  Germantown,  near  Fairfax.  Hastily 
we  prepared  his  grave  in  a  little  hollow  at  the 
foot  of  a  noble  chestnut  tree,  on  the  right,  just 
as  you  enter  Thoroughfare  Gap.  We  wrapped 
his  blanket  about  him  and  fired  the  farewell 
salute  as  we  replaced  the  turf  on  his  lonely 
grave. 

He  was  the  first  of  Company  E  to  die.  It  was 
a  na<l  moment  tor  us  all.  He  was  a  good  boy, 
whom  all  liked.  With  a  sad  heart  I  informed 
his  mother  of  the  death  of  the  last  of  her  lain 


ily.  In  her  anguish  she  did  not  forget  the  cause 
for  which  her  sons  died,  and  blessed 
Qod  she  had  been  able  to  rear  a 
family  of  boys  who  were  willing 
to  give  their  lives  when  their  country's  need 
demand  d  it  She  said  she  had  no  one  to  love,  no 
son  in  the  army,  and  would  adopt  me,  as  1  Lad 
been  kind  to  ner  boy  when  aliva  Many  were 
the  kind  and  motherly  letters  and  little  pres- 
ents, such  as  stockings,  mittens,  handkerchiefs, 
etc.,  which  I  received  from  that  true  American 
mother.  The  fact  that  all  ner  sons  were  witl- 
ing to  tdve  their  lives  for  their  country  was  the 
one  consoling  thought  in  her  great  grief.  It  was 
such  mothers  at  home  that  made  the  war  a  suc- 
cess. W.  H.  H.  HINDS. 
Kennebunkport,  Me. 


GEN.  MEAGHER  S  ADDRESS  AT  FREDER1CKSBURG 


On  that  memorable  i3th  of  December,  1862. 
while  we  were  waiting  in  the  city  of  Fre  'ericks- 
buix  for  the  order  to  move  forward  under  rha 
frowning  guns  on  Marye'a  Heights,  many  who 
beard  the  eloquent  voice  of  Gen.  Meagher  of 
the  iris  n  brigade  will  rememoer  some  of  his 
noble  words  to  his  brave  soldiers. 

The  time  was  drawing  near  when  the  soldiers 
most  marcn  on  the  double  quick  over  the  dead- 
ly plain.  The  firing  had  been  continuous  for  a 
long  time,  but  the  increased  ratt  e  of  musketry 
tola  that  something  more  sweeping  than  the 
work  of  the  whizzing  shells  was  flying  through 
the  air.  The  hissing  of  those  little  bullets  which 
they  were  soon  to  hear,  the  General  well  knew 
would  make  many  a  stout  heart  faint. 

It  was  then,  just  before  bis  men  were  to  be 
ordered  to  the  front  lines,  that  Gen.  Meagher 
rode  along  the  street  and,  like  the  great  Napo- 
leon, addressed  the  brave  lellows  under  his 
Command.  His  sentences  were  short,  his  words 
simple,  the  tones  of  his  voice  loud  and  clear. 
Something  like  these  were  some  of  the  words  he 
•Oared: 


•Soldiers,  the  eyes  of  a  whole  nation  are  upon 
you1  March  on  bravely  to  victory!  Do  your 
duty  to  a  man '  A  glorious  cause  is  yours ! 

"  Soldiers,  be  true!  Do  not  falter  in  the  hour 
of  battle '  Stand  by  your  flag,  and  do  not  shirk 
in  the  hour  of  danger !  Stand  by  me,  my  brave 
men.  and  the  victory  shah  be  ourst 

"  Soldiers,  let  your  step  be  firm!  We  fight  for 
the  dear  ones  at  home.  Let  no  word  go  over  the 
wire  that  my  soldiers  were  cowards.  I  know 
that  can  never  be.  You  came  to  fight  for  the 
Union,  to  overcome  the  enemies  ol  thi-  free 
land  of  ours.  1  know  you  will  stand  un  like  the 
brave  men  I  have  found  you  to  be  Soldier*.  I 
can  trust  you  1  I  know  you  are  ready  to  meet 
the  foe i  Come  on,  i  rave  boys!  I  am  proud  to 
lead  yon  to  the  conflict!" 

History  tells  how  bravely  those  men  fought  on 
that  field  of  slaughter,  but  i  •  one  except  those 
who  listened  to  Meagher  s  words  can  tell  how 
inspiring  were  the  speeches  of  one  like  him  in 
such  an  hour.  P  P  WHITKHOUSE. 

South  Hampton,  N.  H 


A    MOST    GALLANT    FEAT 


[Oonmda  John  Q.  Craw-ford,  now  at  Manchester,  > 
IL,  who  served  in  the  war  in  the  Second  Michigan  Regl 
ment  under  Phil  Sheridan  and  other  commanders,  teiU 
vividly  an  anecdote  ot  a  gallant  charge  at  Freder 
lekgburg,  made  to  dislodge  rebel  sharpshooters  from 
houaes  on  the  opposite  bank  of  the  Rappahannock,  tie- 
dared  by  many  the  most  gallant  in  the  war.] 

I  have  been  deeply  interested  in  the  depart- 
ment of  the  Journal  devoted  to  the  reminis 
eences  of  the  war,  and  am  conscious  of  the  fact 
thai  the  soldiers  of  no  one  State  did  all  the 
fighting  that  saved  the  Union.  No  true  veteran 
would  detract  from  the  glorious  record  of  those 
who  went  from  the  Bay  State,  While  it  was 
my  fortune  to  serve  in  a  Michigan  regiment.  I 
had  two  brothers  who  were  members  of  Massa- 
chusetts regiments,  one  of  whom  gave  his  life 
to  the  Union  ;  the  other,  like  Comrade  Linehan, 
drove  the  enemy  from  ma  -y  a  field  by  the  dis- 
cordant notes  of  a  regimental  band. 

Carleton,"  in  his  description  of  the  battle  of 


Frederlcksburg.  gives  due  credit  to  the  Seventh 
Michigan.  The  story  of  that  battle,  the  heroism 
displayed  by  the  leaders  of  the  forlorn  hope, 
cannot  be  too  often  told  The  account  givaii  at 
the  time,  when  every  movement  was  fresh  in 
the  minds  of  those  who  described  it,  is  as  inter- 
esting and  as  inspiring  as  the  glorious  account 
by  "  Carleton." 

M:iny  of  your  readers  served  in  regiments 
from  other  States  and  tneir  only  desire  is  to  let 
credit  be  given  wherever  it  is  due.  Major 
Thomas  H.  Hunt,  who  commanded  the  Seventh 
Michigan  after  Lieutenant  Colonel  Baxter  was 
wounded,  in  his  report  of  the  battle,  said  ''  On 
the  morni'ig  of  the  llth  we  were  in  line  at  day- 
break and  marched  between  three  and  four 
miles  to  the  Lacey  House,  which  stands  on  the 
bank  of  the  Rappahaunock,  directly  opposite 
Fredericksburg. 

"On  arriving  there  we  found  that  the  Engi- 
neer Corps,  which  had  been  laying  the  pontoon 
bridge  during  the  night  and  had  succeeded  in 
getting  it  about  two-thirds  of  the  way  across. 


178 


STORIES    OF    OUR   SOLDIERS. 


bad  since  that  time  been  continually  fired  noon 
by  the  rebel  sharpshooters,  who  were  concealed 
in  the  houses  and  cellars  alone  the  opposite 
bank,  and  who  killed  and  wounued 
•o  many  of  the  workmen  that  they  were 
forced  to  abandon  the  bridge.  At  this 
Juncture  we  were  ordered  to  deploy  a* 
skirmishers  along  the  edge  of  the  bank  and  b«- 
low  the  bridge.  This  we  did.  and  opene  i  fire  at 
will  against  the  enemy  on  the  opposite  tide.  Out 
under  the  protection  of  briok  houses,  cellar* 
and  ride  pits  ha  coull  laugh  at  us  with  impun- 
.  ity  One  hundred  and  forty  Dieces  of  artillery 
were  then  opened  upon  tins  part  of  the  town  but 
could  not  dislodge  them.  The  attempt  was 
agam  made  to  put  down  the  bridge  but  again 
failed.  General  Buruside  then  proposed  that  a 
party  of  volunteers  be  made  up  to  cross  iu  the 
boats  ami  dislodge  them. 

Our  Colonel  (Hall),  now  commanding  brigade, 
tol  i  General  Buruside  that  he  had  a  regiment 
that  would  volunteer  to  cross,  and  made  u*  the 
offer  which  was  promptly  accepted.  Arrange- 
ments were  made  that  the  men  of  the  Engineer 
Corps  should  man  tue  '  boats  and  row 
us  over.  We  placed  our  men  along 
the  banks  of  tue  river  at  proper 
intervals,  so  that  they  could  take  the  boats 
qnickiy  when  all  was  ready,  and  after  waning 
about  naif  an  hour  we  were  told  that  the  offi- 
cers of  the  Engineer  Corps  could  by  no  means 
induce  their  men  to  undertake  the  job.  The 


proposition  was  then  made  that  we  man  the 
uoats  ourselves.  This  prooosition  we  also  ac- 
cepied.  and  at  a  given  signal  the  men  rushed  t* 
the  boats,  carried  them  to  the  water,  jumpa4 
into  them,  ana  pushed  gallantly  out  into  th« 
stream  amidst  a  shower  of  bullet*  from  the 
enemy  which  killed  and  wounded  a  great  num- 
ber of  our  men.  Among  the  latter  was  Lieut. 
Col.  Baxter,  and  here  the  command  devolved 
upon  me.  The  regiment  charged  gallantly  up  the 
ascent,  taking  possession  of  the  ride  pits  ant 
buildings,  also  capturing  35  prisoners.  During 
this  affair  we  lost  five  killed  and  16  wounded 
It  was  said  by  the  many  thousands  who  wit- 
nessed this  teat  that  it  was  the  most  gallant  of 
the  war,  and  I  feel  that  our  State  should  have 
the  credit  due  her.  I  should  not  close  without 
stating  that  the  Nineteenth  and  Twentieth 
Massachusetts  came  to  our  support  as  soon  as 
they  oossibly  could  and  we  held  the  ground  un- 
til the  pontoon  uri  ige  was  finished  and  this 
wing  of  the  army  crossed,  and  did  not  ourselves 
recross  again  until  the  night  of  the  15th  iust." 
Gen.  Thomas  F.  Mea^her,  in  his  report,  said: 
"A  few  moments  after  4  o'clock  F.  M.  wort 
was  conveyed  to  me  that  a  gallant  body  of  vol- 
unteers had  crossed  the  river  in  boaU  and  take* 
possession  of  FredericKsburg.  The  State  «C 
Michigan  fairly  reserves  to  herself  the  Urgut 
measure  of  pride  justified  by  this  achievement." 

JOHN  G.  CRAWFORD, 
Manchester.  N.  H..  late  of  the  Second  MicbfeaB. 


THE     BURNING     RAILROAD    TRAIN. 


(The  story  of  a  burning  railroad  train,    whlcto   coonM 
fermany  a  mile  with  It*    load   of    flr»  and  exploding  am 
munition,  U  told  by  Pension  Agent  Osborne. ) 

The  following  incident  occurre  i  on  Sunday. 
June  29,  1862,  wiiile  the  Army  of  the  Polemic 
was  falling  back  from  its  lines  in  front  of  Rich 
mem  I,  on  its  route  to  Harrison's  Landing  on  the 
James  River.  The  day  broke  exceedingly 
warm  and  sultry.  Early  in  the  morning  my 
brigade  (the  Irish  BrUade  of  Gen.  Meagher) 
started  up  the  tracks  of  the  York  and  Richmond 
Railroad  to  reconnoitre  in  the  vicinity  of  Fair 
Oaks. 

In  going  and  returning  we  observed  that  ex- 
tensive preparations  were  being  made  to  de- 
stroy large  quantities  of  army  stores  that  had 
'accumulated  at  this  point  during  the  siege,  and 
which  we  were  unat>le  to  remove  in  the  wagons 
during  the  time  afforded  us.  Enormous  fires 
were  Kindled,  and  into  them  were  thrown  boxes 
of  hard  bread,  bales  of  clothing,  cases  of  shoes, 
blankets,  fragments  of  cars,  cents,  hospital 
stores,  barrels  of  whisky  and  turpentine,  and 
many  other  articles  that  go  to  ma&e  ut>  Quar- 
termaster's supplies.  The  whole  combined 
made  a  tire  covering  nearly  two  acres. 

This  destruction  of  stores,  says  the  Count  of 
Paris,  "  was  a  sort  of  holocaust  offered  to  the 
god  of  war,"  and  such  indeed  it  seemed  to  be. 
While  this  was  talcing  place,  the  troops  were 
hurrying  to  and  fro.  taking  UP  the  various  DOS! 
tions  assigned  them  on  the  hill  opposite  Sav 


age's  Station,  preparing  to  meet  the  enemy,  who 
was  momentarily  expected. 

The  impressive  nature  of  these  scenes  «»»»*t 
be  adequately  portiayed  by  human  lanuuaff*. 
An  army  of  probably  60.000  men  were  muster- 
ing tor  battle;  the  rumbling  of  the  artillery  as  ft 
went  from  point  to  point  over  the  field,  the  ex- 
cited commands  ot  hundreds  of  officers,  to* 
neighing  of  horses,  an  I  the  roar  of  th«  flames. 
made  up  the  wildest  of  all  the  wild  somites  of 
war. 

1'he  noise  and  tumult  were,  however,  of  short 
duration.  It  was  not  long  before  everything 
nad  changed.  Bv  two  o'clock  ihe  lines  were 
forme  I,  the  artillery  had  unlimbered  and  taken 
position,  ana  then  could  have  been  seen  under 
the  cloudless  sky  of  that  June  day  the  corps  of 
Heimzelman,  Franklin  and  Sumiier,  with  their 
numerous  starry  dags,  quietly  and  calmly  wait- 
ing for  the  storm  of  battle  to  burst  upon  them. 

Another,  ami  if  possible,  a  stranger  and  more 
unusual  scene  was  to  be  witnessed  beiore  the 
serious  work  of  fighting  was  to  uegin.  My  bri- 
gade was  iu  position  near  the  crown  of  the  hill 
overlooking  the  ravine  through  which  ran  the 
railroad.  On  the  track  near  Fair  Oaks  station 
stood  a.  train  of  nearly  fittv  baggage  cars  with  a 
powerful  locomotive  attached  to  it.  Into  the 
cars  had  been  put  hundreds  of  kegs  of  powder, 
shells,  cartridges,  and  oJier  material  of  a 
highly  combustible  character.  At  a  little  after 
2  o'clock  the  cars  had  been  well  loaded  with 
their  dangerous  freight,  and  when  this  waa  done 


A  CORPORAL  TURNED  REPORTER. 


179 


car  was  set  on  fire,  the  engineer  opened 
vride  th«  throttle  of  his  engine,  jumped  from  it. 
ana  left  the  tram  to  plunge  forward  on  its  fiery 
course  alone.  In  full  view  of  the  waiting  army 
the  burning  train  swept  past  Savage's  station 
with  the  soeed  of  lightning. 

The  grade  from  this  point  to  the  Chickahom- 
my  was  descending,  greatly  increasing  (tie 
velocity  of  ihe  cars;  every  revolution  of  the 
•wheels  increased  the  volume  of  tire,  BO  that 
now  the  form  of  the  cars  was  scarcely  visiule— 
it  was  nothing  short  of  one  long  chain  of 
fire  I 

The  distance  from  Savage's  station  to  Meadow 
Bridge,  winch  had  already  been  burned,  on  tlie 
Chickahominy  is  not  far  Irom  two  and  a  half 
miles.  Wnen  the  train  had  reached  the  deep 
torest  beyond  the  station  a  deafening  explosion 
in  re  i  upon  our  ears.  The  tire  had  reached  tne 
ammunition  and  now  in  quick  succession  be- 
gan to  burst  the  shells. 

The  noise  thus  produced  was  simply  terrific; 
fir-it  the  loud,  sullen  sound  of  a  huge  shell  rent 
the  air.  echoing  far  and  wid«  through  the  deep 


recesses  of  the  forest ;  now  oame  the  explostoa 
of  smaller  ammunition,  sounding  like  the  rattle 
of  musketry.  The  scene  of  war  seemed  trans 
f erred  to  the  upper  regions;  the  shrieking,  hls*- 
ing  missiles  were  coursing  in  all  direction* 
through  the  clear  sky.  far  above  the  tops  of  the 
tallest  trees;  OMVMM  of  white  smoke  were 
shooting  up  in  gracefully  tapering  cone* 
toward  the  zenith;  beautiful  circles,  well  de- 
fined, marked  tlie  explosion  of  shells. 

The  rattle  and  roar  of  the  train  were  distinct- 
ly hear  i  tor  some  minutes,  ending  at  last  in* 
succession  of  crashing  sounds. 

1  had  the  misfortune  to  ba  wounded  at  the 
i  attle  of  Malvern  Hill  two  days  later  and  to 
fall  into  the  nands  of  the  enemy,  and  while  a 
pnsoner  in  their  line*  I  chanced  to  fall  In  with 
a  North  Carolina  officer  who  had  visited  the 
scene  where  the  burning  train  leaped  into  the 
Chickaliominy.  lie  told  me  that  by  actual 
measurement  the  engine  and  tender  jumped 
full  20  feet  when  it  left  the  end  of  the  rails  and 
lodged  on  the  too  of  a  tall  pier  in  the  oed  of  the 
••treamt  WM.  H.  OsBOBNB. 


HOW  A  CORPORAL  TURNED  REPORTER. 


.Mr.  Fhineas  P.  Whltehonse,  wag  a  member  of  Company 
•  .  Sixth  Mew  Hampshire  Volunteers.  I 

During  the  war  I  wrote  letters  to  local  home 
papers,  and  although  this  fact  was  known  to  a 
few  comrades.  I  think  that  very  few,  if  any, 
soldiers  outside  of  my  own  company  looked 
upon  me  as  a  writer  for  the  press.  I  was  there- 
fore not  a  little  surprised  at  the  beginning  of 
the  battles  of  the  Wilderness  in  1864.  when  the 
Adjutant  of  my  regiment  called  me  out  from 
the  ranks  and  detailed  me  for  snecial  service  as 
a  reporter  of  the  great  battles  that  that  officer 
said  were  to  follow. 

1  be  skirmishing  had  already  begun,  at  least 
along  our  part  of  the  line,  and  stray  shots 
whizxed  through  the  woods  and  stopped  fright- 
fully near  us  at  time*.  I  carried  a  musket,  and 
marched  in  the  front  rank  with  my  comrades. 
We  also  had  with  us  our  knaosacks  containing 
our  cloning,  blanket,  shelter,  etc..  our  haver 
sack,  canteen,  belt  and  cartridge  box. 

I  was  not  personally  acquainted  with  the  Ad 
jutant.  I  bad  snokca  with  him.  as  had  scores  of 
others,  as  occasion  demanded  in  line  of  duty, 
but  1  did  not  suppose  he  knew  me,  except  in  a 
very  indefinite  manner,  from  a  hundred  other 
members  of  the  regiment. 

'ihe  Adjutant  rode  up  to  me  where  1  stood  in 
the  line,  and  as  nearly  as  I  can  remember  ad 
dressed  me  in  the  following  words: 

"  Corporal,  we  are  going  to  have  a  great  bat- 
tle. I  want  you  to  come  with  me  to  m  ike  a  re- 
port of  it"  The  Captain  of  my  company,  if  he 
noticed  the  incident  at  all,  thought  nothing  of 
the  fact  that  a  man  should  be  detailed  from  his 
company  for  some  special  service,  and.  without 
attracting  the  attention  of  any  one  in  particu 
lar,  I  left  my  place  in  the  line  and  found  a 
slightly  retired  place  a  few  rods  in  the  rear. 
tooK  out  my  pencil  and  paper  and  began  to  write. 


It  soon  began  to  rain,  and  1  put  up  my  shelter 
on  sticks  or  the  branches  of  trees  so  as  to  keep 
off  the  wet,  as  it  was  not  yery  convenient  to 
write  with  the  rain  drops  falling  on  my  papei. 
The  Adjutant  rode  away  and  left  me  to  myself. 
but  I  think  I  had  not  written  more  than  a  page 
before  he  returned  to  see  how  1  was  progressing 
with  my  account. 

I  think  I  read  him  what  1  had  written,  and  he 
expressed  himself  satisfied  with  my  work.  "I 
want  you  to  come  with  me  now."  said  he.  and 
he  rode  off  toward  the  lett  of  the  line,  I  follow* 
ing  as  best  I  could  on  foot.  Of  eourse,  the  Ad- 
jutant went  faster  on  his  horse  than  I  could 
walk,  but  he  role  up  to  another  regiment  and 
waited  for  my  arrival.  Asking  the  name  of  tbe 
regiment  he  turned  to  me  and  instructed  me  te 
make  a  memorandum  of  it,  and  then  started  off 
still  farther  to  the  left.  Tbe  engagement  was 
not  general,  still  there  was  occasional  tiring. 
and  deadly  missiles  would  now  and  then  come 
in  our  path.  The  Adjutant's  horse  was  a  good 
one.  and  be  got  over  the  ground  at  a  lively 
pace  I,  on  foot,  could  progress  but  slowly  in 
comparison. 

We  came  to  a  battery,  after  traveling  over 
not  a  little  uneven  ground,  somewhat  more 
open  than  where  my  regiment  lay.  when  the 
Adjutant  asked  its  name,  and  1  made  noie  of  it 
:ts  beiore.  1  his  performance  was  repeated  till 
1  found  mvself  quite  a  distance  away  from  my 
comrades,  and  the  officer  whose  instructions  I 
had  been  endeavoring  to  follow  gave  me  oer- 
mission  to  return  to  my  retreat  and  continue 
my  account  of  the  movements  of  our  regiment. 
Our  lines  and  those  of  the  enemy  were  quite 
near,  and  the  scattering  shots  which  came  from 
tbe  Confederates  were  decidedly  unfavorable  to 
a  very  fitting  choice  of  words  in  my  description 
of  the  events  then  transpiring.  I  did  not  know 
what  disposition  the  Adjutant  intended  to  make 


180 


STORIES    OF    OUR   SOLDIERS. 


ot  my  report.  That  was  none  ol  my  business  My 
duty  was  to  obey  the  orders  of  my  superiors, 
and  in  this  instance  I  did  my  best  work  under 
ihe  circumstances.  My  musket  lay  id.e  beside 
me,  while  for  the  time  I  took  up  the  pencil. 

There  lie  on  the  desk  before  me  as  I  write  twc 
Boiled  sheets  of  note  paper  on  which  are  six 
quite  closely  written  pages,  the  result  of  my 
work  as  regimental  reporter  at  that  time  I  had 
written  but  three  words  on  the  seventh  cage  of 
my  notepaper  when  I  saw  the  Colonel  ap- 
proaching my  retreat.  He  looked  at  my  musket, 
knapsack  and  other  trappings  at  my  side,  and 
i  c>en  at  the  owner  busy  with  pencil  and  i>a;>i'r 


never  forget  the  puzzled  ICCK  ot  the 
Colonel  when  he  asked: 

"  Corporal,  what  are  vou  doing  hero?  * 

"  The  Adjutant  has  detailed  me  to  write  an 
account  of  tiie  baule,"  1  replied. 

"  Well."  said  he,  "you  may  go  to  youi  com- 
pany. The  A'ljutant  isn't  Just  right" 

Ot  course  I  immediately  obeyed,  leaving  my 
literary  task  unfinished,  now  realizing  that  I 
had  been  under  the  direction  of  an  officer  labor- 
ing under  aberration  of  mind. 

P  P  WHITBHOUS* 

South  Hamilton.  N.  H. 


CORPORAL    REPORTER. 


A  NIGHT  ON  PICKET. 


(TIM  foUnwtng  prutbnmotu  paper  vu  written  oy  CapU 
Jofen  u  Mude»  of  Pvtonhain.  who  served  in  the  Depart- 
••nt  of  (Itr  < tiUf  und*r  Genera;  Banks. 

The  ttprlnit  ol  18«3  found  me  enrolled  as  a 
soldier  In  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Union.' 
Tli»-  rudiment  to  which  I  iiad  the  honor  to  be- 
Ion*  wa-  assigned  for  duty  in  the  "Department 
of  i  he  Gulf  "  wuose  headquarters  were  at  New 
Or  i«*  AIIS 

In  i.'if  mor.tr,  of  Apr:,  tne  wnoie  army,  some 
16  OOP  strong,  started  for  a  campaign  through 
t);*-  western  part  of  the  State  Our  march  lay 
through  the  parishes  of  St  Mary  St  Martin  and 
Si  I -an.  ire.  what  i.s  calie  I  the  "  Feche  Country" 
—die  very  garden  of  the  State 

We    .anded    from    New    Orleans    by   rail    at 
Bemick  Bay  where  we  commenced  our  march. 
We  felt  our  way    along  carefully    often  march 
insr  all  day  in     line   of   battle."      At   Paltemu 
Tille  we  had  onr  first  fight  our  baptism  of  fire 
captured  Fort  Bisland   and    drove  the       rabs  ' 
toward   Alexandria     The   army   pushed  on  in 
pursuit  rapidly  nnd  in    high  spirits  marching 
from  20  to  30  miles  per  day 

We  reached  New  Iberia  near  nigne  alter  a 
march  of  some  30  miles  At  this  place,  on  the 
outskirts  of  the  village,  our  advance  had  had 
a  "skirmish1  with  the  rebs  and  some  half  a 
dozen  of  the  .alter  lay  dead  by  the  roa<iside  as 
we  marchea  by  in  the  early  evening  to  camp 
for  the  night,  at  some  three  miles  distance 

The  spot  of  the  skirmish,  a  few  hours  before 
was  a  beautiful  plantation  the  home  of  one  of 
those  oid  French  families  who.  in  the  past,  ha : 
added  lustre  and  renown  to  the  history  of  the 
State,  and  in  consideration  cf  the  well-know:: 
hostility  of  the  owners  to  the  Union  and  that 
th«  rebs  had  fired  from  this  house  upon  our 
advance  the  boys1'  were  allowed  to  "go 


through  it,"  sack,  pillage  and  destroy  every  arti- 
cle within  its  walls.  One  who  has  never  seen  i 
house  " sacked "  by  the  "boys"  can  have  no- 
idea  how  faithfully  they  "do  their  work." 
"They  "  were  "  at  it  '  while  we  were  marching 
by  to  our  camping  ground  for  the  night,  where 
we  arrived  aoout  8  o'clock  in  the  evening. 


We  had  a  iong  march  that  day  and  were  ai. 
played  out,"  or  at  least  we  thought  so.  The 
boys  dropped  on  the  ground  with  hardly 
strength  and  ambition  enough  to  get  their  sup- 
pers 1  had  been  ou  duty  as  Captain  of  the 
picket  guard,  only  the  night  before,  and  wa» 
congratulating  myself  upon  a  good  night's  rest, 
of  which  I  stood  much  in  need.  Ivel.'  that 
kind  and  thoughtful  soul  who  ever  afterward 
seemed  to  me  *  saint  on  earth  and 
who  two  months  afterward  fell  before 
Port  Hudson,  insisted  upon  making  me 
my  quart  cup  full  of  coffee  I  was  soon  outside 
of  that  and  lay  flat  on  the  ground  munching 
'  hard  tack,  winking  at  the  stars  in  return 
and  listening  to  the  plaintive  notes  of  the 
mourning  dove  in  the  swamp  near  by  which 
seemed  to  speak  to  me  of  coming  sorrow  in  the 
future 

In  a  moment  my  cjuiet,  peacefu.  reverie  was 
broken  Captain  Blank,  whose  duty  it  was  to 
command  the  guard  picket  that  night  was 
sick,  and  had  sent  to  me  asking  if  I  would  do 
him  the  favor  to  take  his  place  tnat  night- 
could  get  no  one  else  all  seeming  tc  have  ;h<* 
best  excuses 

I  reluctantly  consented,  hastily  throwing  i 
lew  comforts  such  as  1  had  into  my  haversack, 
and  with  my  blanket  on  my  arm.  was  soon 
marching  with  a  detail  of  about  200  men  to  es- 
tablish the  picket  line  for  the  night. 


182 


STORIES    OF    OUR    SOLDIERS. 


The  formation  of  a  "  picket  line  "  of  an  army 
in  an  enemy's  country  is  generally  as  follows; 
Abomt  a  mile  from  the  main  army  one-third  of 
the  deta..  is  stationed  caued  the  grand  guard, 
which  is  the  first  line.  About  60U  yards  from 
the  grand  guard  are  three  detachments 
•tatloned  in  a  circle  some  200  yards 
apart.  each  detachment  in  charge 
•I  a  Sergeant.  This  is  the  sec- 
ond line.  Two  hundred  yards  from  the  secoud 
line  are  stationed  nine  small  detachments  of 
men,  each  in  command  of  a  Corporal  This  is 
the  third  line.  From  thirty  to  fifty  yards  far- 
ther are  a  line  of  sentinels  within  hailing  dis- 
tance of  each  ottier.  This  is  the  fourth  line  and 
completes  the  half  circle  as  far  as  tne  formation 
«f  the  country  will  permit,  Ihe  grand  guard- 
or  first  line,  is  in  command  of  a  Captain  and  the 
•Commaudng  Omcer. 

In  case  01  an  attack  in  force,  the  sentineis  fall 
back  upon  the  Corporals'  details,  they  upon  the 
Sergeants,  and  ail  upon  the  grand  guard,  when 
it  is  expected  the  enemy  will  be  kept  in  check 
mntil  tne  main  army  can  be  warned  and  loruied 
in  line  of  bact.e.  ready  to  repel  the  foe  Once 
before  miuuignt  and  once  after  the  Captain  or 
Lieutenant  must  visit  the  outposts.  Often- 
times H  requires  a  waJc  of  two  miles  or  more, 
•tumbling  aionsr  in  the  dark.  One  is  thankful 
wben  it  is  well  over 

1  had  just  made  the  first  rounds  for  the  night, 
ffiven  orders  fur  the  .Lieutenant  to  make  the 
next,  when  I  thrust  myself  uuon  the  ground  for 
rest  and  sleep.  In  a  few  moments  1  had  dropped 
off.  "solid,  too."  How  Ion?  1  lay  in  that  blissful 
state  1  never  knew,  out  I  was  suddenly  aroused 
by  sound  of  voices— peals  of  laughter  from  a 
party  of  mounted  men  a  little  away  from  my 
right  (free ted  my  ear  Fortunately  it  was  dark, 
very  dark,  but  among  those  voices  I  instantly 
recognized  that  ot  the  Commanding  General  of 
the  army  I  had  known  him  a  little  at  home 
before  the  war.  There  was  no  mistake  about 
that  voice  A  cannon  booming  in  my  ear  couid 
•ot  have  started  me  more.  Like  a  flash  of 
lightning  I  leaped  to  my  feet  Good  heavens  I 
the  grand  guard  were  all  tiat  on  the  ground 
sound  asleep. 

Visions  of  court-martial,  dismissal  and  dis- 
•race  went  crashing  through  my  brain  like  a 
kail  of  tire.  In  the  frenzy  of  the  moment  I 
grasped  each  man  by  the  collar  and  lifted  him 
to  his  feet  and  into  line,  hissing  in  his  ear. 
" Great  Jerusalem '  General  B.  is  right  onto  us; 
lor  blank's  sake,  wake  up!  " 

I  had  barely  time  with  my  most  frantic  efforts 
to  get  my  men  in  line,  place  myself  at  the  right, 
give  the  order  to  'sboulder  arms,"  "present 
arms,"  and  "salute.'  before  General  B.  and  his 
staff  were  before  me 

1  had  experienced  several  times  in  my  life 
cold  and  also  hot  perspiration,  but  this  time  the 
latter  ran  off  of  me  in  rivers.  Darkness  had 
fortunately  protected  him  from  seeing  the  ex- 
traordinary situation  of  my  command  and  the 
efforts  I  had  made  to  receive  him.  He  halted 


for  a  moment,  seemed  to  be  in  the  best  of 
spirits,  and  as  I  afterward  lewned  had.  witk 
his  staff,  a  little  celebration  at  New  Iberia  that 
night  and  was  on  his  return  to  hid  headquarter*. 
He  complimented  me  on  the  promptness,  zeal 
and  discipline  of  my  command  in  ai  pleasant 
way  and  passe  1  on. 

Good  heavens  I  "What  an  escape  I  That 
moment  was  a  crisis  in  my  military  life.  Never 
did  wordsof  commendation  fall  more  pleasantly 
upon  my  ear,  but  candor  compels  me  to  say 
never  more  undeserved.  I  was  grateful.  1  Jell 
as  though  a  hissing  bullet  had  passed  by  and 
left  me  unharmed. 

However,  1  had  hardly  got  over  my  scare  be- 
fore the  Officer  of  the  Day  rode  up.  a  Major  of  a 
New  York  regiment.  We  soon  got  into  a  little 
row— he  threatened  to  put  me  under  arrest. 
The  fact  was  he  ha  1  had  too  much  whisky  and 
I  too  little.  But  the  matter  was  happily 
averted  yet  out  of  revenge  he  kept  me  a  danc- 
ing along  the  outposts  until  morning. 

The  fine  rays  of  the  sun  shone  upon  the  mad- 
dest Captain  in  the  whole  army,  tired  and  worm 
out  with  the  trials  and  duties  of  the  night,  witk 
hardly  strength  enough  left  to  express  himself 
of  the  situation  in  accordance  with  the  rules 
and  regulations  governing  the  army. 

It  was  late  that  morning  belore  we  were  re- 
lieve I.  The  column  was  already  marching;  no 
chance  for  rations.  I  asked  and  obtained  leave 
to  straggle  for  a  few  hours  and  pick  »p  my 
breaktast  as  best  I  could. 

The  army  counter  marched  about  three  miles 
toward  the  village  of  New  Iberia  near  the  scene 
of  action  and  pillage  the  day  before.  I  went 
ahead  of  the  reeiment  and  determined  to  grat- 
ify my  curiosity  and  examine  the  house  and  the 
work  of  the  boys.  It  was  a  quaint  old  boos* 
filled  with  rich,  old  furniture  and  costly  china 
imported  from  France,  and  the  place  wan 
owned  and  occupied  by  the  descendant*  of  ite 
nobility  But  what  a  wreck  I  Every  artieke 
was  broken,  destroyed  or  removed  by  neat* 
careful  hand  of  a  Union  soldier. 

After  a  close  search  I  could  find  only  tw« 
little  articles  that  were  worth  my  earryinr 
away  as  mementoes  of  the  place.  As  I  passed 
into  the  back  court  I  saw  madam,  the  lady  of 
the  house.  She  sat  attheiootof  a  tree,  witk 
only  one  attendant.  All  the  men  had  fled.  Her 
long  white  hair  hung  loosely  on  her  shoulders — 
a  perfect  picture  of  despair,  hatred  and  rage 
with  the  ruin  which  surrounded  her.  A  feeble 
attempt  on  my  part  to  say  a  wor  I  met  witk  no 
response. 

Just  at  that  moment  my  eye  caught  sight  of 
one  of  those  Western  boys  with  a  basket  full  of 
eggs— fresh  at  that  It  was  the  work  of  bat  a 
moment  to  order  half  a  dozen  into  my  haver- 
sactc,  thus  making  my  breakfast  a  fixe  1  fact 
Going  into  a  kitchen  nearby,  and  with  the 
remains  of  a  mahogany  chair  for  kin  i  ling 
woo  i.  I  soon  had  a  good  fire.  In  a  few 
moments  my  coffee  was  boiling,  my  eggs  were 
boiling,  my  harutack  and  entire  larder  in  a 
reachable  position;  by  the  way,  it  consisted  of 
only  salt,  pepper  and  a  little  sugar.  I  never 


184 


STORIES    OF    OUK    SOLDIERS. 


shall  forget  that  breakfast.  Sueb  cooking  1 
Such  eggs  never  were  equaled  in  my  Northern 
home.  So  sweet,  so  delicious,  perfect  blen  line 
of  the  white  and  the  yellow.  Neither  too  hard  nor 
too  soft.  Out  a  half  soli  I  and  liquid  combina- 
tion that  one  by  one  melted  from  my  sight,  bat 
to  my  memory  ever  dear. 

O  ye  housekeepers,  if  I  could  only  impart  the 
secret  of  my  success  in  that  morning  hour  your 
fortunes  would  be  made  forever;  but,  alas,  I 
have  tried  in  after  years,  often  when  circum- 
stances seemed  favorable,  but  never  approached 
the  sublimity  of  that  occasion. 

It  was  i.ow  about  ten  o'clock.  Our  brigade 
was  miles  away,  and  how  to  overtake  our  regi- 
ment uegan  to  press  itself  on  my  mind.  How- 
ever. I  was  full  and  happy  and  rested,  in  a 


measure,  with  a  general  desire  to  forgive  a  large 
portion  of  my  enemies. 

In  the  rear  of  our  column  were  a  large  num- 
ber of  "  hangers  on."  negro  men  and  women  and 
some  straggling  soldiers.  Isaw  one  of  the  lat- 
ter leading  a  horse.  It  was  not  much  of  a  horse, 
but  I  thought  I  would  purchase  it. 

The  price  was  $3.  but.  with  a  little  Yankee 
shrewdness.  1  was  soon  the  fortunate  owner  for 
nine  shillings.  My  saddle  an  I  bridle,  which  I 
soon  obtained,  cost  even  less  (in  money),  bat 
what  the  recording  angel  put  down  for  me  that 
morning  I  never  knew.  A  couple  of  hours  of 
hard  riding  iTougbt  me  into  the  arms  of  my 
boys,  who  received  their  Captain  with  shouts  of 
laughter,  thus  ending  my  night  of  picket  duty. 
JOHN  G.  MUDOB. 


CAPTAIN    JOHN    G.    MUDGE. 


Capt.  John  Green  Mudge  was  born  in  Win- 
chester. N.  EL.  March  26, 1823.  He  removed  to 
Petersham,  Mass.,  at  the  age  of  25. 

In  1862  he  raised  a  company  of  volunteers  in 
Petersham  and  adjoining  towns,  receiving  a 
commission  as  Captain  of  Company  F.  Fifty- 
third  Regiment,  M.  V.  M.  He  enlisted  for  nine 
months,  luaving  Camp  Stevens.  Groton.  Nov. 
29, 1862,  and  was  ordered  to  Louisiana  with  his 
regiment  to  serve  in  the  Department  of  the 
Gulf  under  command  of  Gen.  Banks.  He  was 
at  the  capture  of  Fort  Bisland  April  13,  1863. 
The  Fitiy-third.  joining  the  Desieging  forces  be- 
fore Port  Hu  ison,  Capt  Mudge  was  engaged 
with  his  company  during  the  siege,  and.  until 
the  surrender  July  9,  in  several  skirmishes  and 
assaults.  During  one  of  the  most  disastrous  of 
these  assaults,  which  occurred  June  14.  Capt. 
Madge  was  wounded  by  a  miuie  ball,  losing 
the  lower  portion  of  the  left  ear. 

In  a  letter  written  in  the  woods  near  Port 
Hudson,  he  tells  of  this  ill-fated  attempt  upon 
the  enemy's  works  as  follows:  "On  the  morn- 
ing of  the  14th.  a  bright,  beautiful  Sunday 
morn,  our  leaders  selected  for  an  assanlt  upon  a 
portion  of  the  works  the  Eighth  New  Hampshire 
and  Fourth  Wisconsin,  who  were  to  go  forward 
M  skirmishers,  two  companies  of  the  Fourth 
Massachusetts  and  two  of  the  One  Hundred 
and  Tenth  New  York,  with  hand  grenades  to 
throw  over  the  parapet;  then  the  Thirty-eighth 
Massachusetts  as  first  line  skirmishers,  and  the 
Fifty-third  Massachusetts  as  second  line,  to  sup- 
port and  balance  the  brigade,  tostorm  in  column 


and  also  to  be  followed  by  the  First  and  Second 
Brigades  of  Gen.  Paine's  Division.  At  the  com- 
mand, forward,  we  all  clashed  off  at  daylurht, 
rushing  on  until  within  two  or  three  ro  Is  of  the 
works  into  a  ravine  uoon  the  too  edge  and  fired 
upon  the  enemy  whenever  they  put  their  heads 
over  the  parapet 

We  lay  there  a  few  moments  when  Gen. 
Paine  came  forward,  and  in  a  loud,  clear  voice 
ordere  i  t tie  Thirty-eighth  and  Fifty-third  Mas- 
sachusetts to  charge  over  the  parapet  into  the 
enemy's  works. 

Company  F  rose  up  manfully  and  with  heroic 
bravery  charged  up  the  parapet  until  nearly 
every  man  who  reached  the  brow  of  the  hili 
was  either  killed  or  wounded. 

Col.  Kimball,  who  stood  in  the  bottom  of  the 
ravine,  seeing  us  fall  back  ordered  me  again  to 
charge.  I  replied  that  I  had  not  a  man  standing 
to  make  a  charge. 

tie  was  satisfied  that  we  had  done  all  that 
could  be  required  of  us ! 

Oh.  what  a  sad  sight!  And  a  painful  time  I 
had  in  dragging  out  the  wounded  of  my  brave 
company.  Never  can  I  think  of  that  sad  scene 
and  bo  happy. 

Out  nf  34  men  who  followed  me  into  battle  22 
were  killed,  wounded  and  missing. 

*  V  *  *  *  » 

Capt  Mudge  was  mustered  out  of  service 
Sent  2,  1863.  and  died  in  Boston  March  22, 
1891.  He  joined  the  Samuel  G.  Wood  G.  A.  B. 
Post  of  Barre.  Mass.,  a  few  years  before  hie. 
death. 


RUINS    OF    FORT    SUMTER. 


THE  SIEGE  OF  CHARLESTON. 


tek  jttridge  J.  Copp  was  born  In  Warren.  N.  H.  Dt  .'• 
Xg  his  Infancy  hla  parents  moved  to  Nashua,  in  whlci- 
mtf  be  hju  *ver  since  resided.  lie  was  graduated  at  the 
Kasha*  High  School  in  the  class  of  '61,  and,  although 
••a  only  16  years  of  age.  he  immediately  enlisted  M  a 
soldier  in  the  ranks  of  toe  Third  Regiment, 
Hampshire  Volunteers.  In  1862  he  was  ap- 
Sergeant  Major  of  the  regiment  and  soon 
•fker  was  promoted  to  »  Second  Lieutenancy. 
Hi  soldierly  bearing,  faithfulness  under  trying 
•frmimstanoea.  enthusiasm  and  superb  courage  when  the 
•BMto  was  on  won  the  admiration  of  ins  superiors  In  rank 
a*4  secured  for  him  a  commission  as  Adjutant  of  th« 
moment  in  186S.  lie  was  then  but  13  yean  of  age  and 
WAS  the  rounsrest  commissioned  oftlcer  in  the  service. 
Copp  served  for  *  time  as  Assistant  Adjutant 
•o  (.be  staff  of  Colonel  and  Acting  Brigadier 
•e»rral  Louis  Bell,  who  was  kUled  at  Fort  Fisher,  and 
IMd  his  commission  until  mustered  oat  in  October,  1894, 
••  account  of  disability  from  wounds. 

That  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  not  a  carpet  knight 
tr  •  soldier  who  shirked  the  bugle  call  to  battle  is  abund- 
ant evidence  of  hi*  gallant  record,  a  record  that  does 
honor  to  bis  native  State,  and  lo  which  he  has  every  res- 
to  take  pride.  At  Drewry's  Blufi.  in  front  of  Richmond, 
under  a  murderous  ore.  tie  wan  wounded  iu  the 
shoulder,  but  so  earnest  was  his  desire  to  be  with  the 
•swrades  of  his  battles  and  hardships,  so  devoted  was 
Ms  patriotism,  he  joined  his  command  before  his 
wound  was  fairly  healed,  and  was  again  to  his 
saddle  when  the  movement  was  made  at  Deep 
Bottom.  In  this  terrible  and  unsuccessful  as- 
SMltmade  by  llawley's  brigade,  and  when  Inside  the 
•steny's  fortification,  he  was  shot  through  the  body  and 
lift  among  the  dead.  His  feeling  was.  as  he  once  said  to 
•he  writer  of  this  sketch,  thai  only  his  head  remained  to 
him  and  that  his  wound  was  mortal,  lie  was  rescued  by 
•  member  or  Gen.  Haw  ley 's  staff,  and  was  one  of  but  few 
«f  his  regiment  among  the  hundred  or  more  who  were 
wounded  In  the  engagement  who  escaped  being  taken 
prisoner.  Under  skillful  treatment  at  the  Chesapeake 
Hospital,  at  Fortress  Monroe,  he  recovered  so  as  to  be  re- 
moved to  his  home.  He  has  never  fully  recovered  from 
Bts  wounds,  and  la  often  a  great  sufferer  for  weeks  at  a 

Following  th«  war  Colonel  Copp  traveled  for  a  time  in 


toe  West  for  a  Chicago  and  Indianapolis  book  concern,, 
but  anally  wearying  of  the  road,  he  settled  in  business  in 
Nashua  with  his  brother.  Captain  Charles  D.  Copp,  a 
gallant  veteran  of  the  New  Hampshire  Ninth,  who  was 
•warded  a  gold  medal  by  the  Government  for 
meritorious  service  In  the  critical  tide  of  battle. 
In  1878  Colonel  Copp  was  appointed  Register  of 
Probate  for  UUlsboro'  county,  H  position  which 
be  has  tilled  with  such  marked  ability  and  courtesy 
that  he  has  been  elected  biennially  ever  since.  He  has 
not.  however,  in  the  yean  since  the  war.  abated  any  of 
bis  military  ardor.  On  the  contrary,  tie  was  commissioned 
Captain  of  the  Nashn*  City  Guards  in  1878.  and 
by  drill  and  discipline  gave  It  *  standing  second  U.  »on» 
in  the  State  ti.  18/9  he  wtu  promoted  to  the  rank  01 
Major  of  the  Second  Kegunenl,  New  Hampshire  National 
Guard.  •  few  months  later  be  wa»  advanced 
to  Lieutenant  Colonel,  and  Iu  1884,  UDOL  tne  pm 
motion  of  Cot  !/  M  White  to  a  Brigade  Commander, 
was  commissioned  Colonel.  When  his  flve  years  had  ex 
ptred  be  was  urged  to  accept  a  new  •ommi.sioii,  'mt,  be- 
lieving this  would  be  unfair  to  other  deserving  officer* 
who  had  eartieo  promotion,  he  declined  the  honor.  Kven 
then,  bis  Interest  in  the  military  of  New  Hampshire  did 
not  cease.  fo»  he  at  once  assumed  the  task  of  organizing  a 
•rtock  Company  and  by  the  moat  zealous  laboi  suc- 
ceeded In  erecting  in  Nashua  the  finest  armory 
In  the  State.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Conern 
national  Society,  the  Masonic  Fraternity,  I.  o. 
O.  F.,  John  G.  Foster  Post.  G.  A.  R..  and  the  Massacuu 
setts  Commandery  of  the  Loyal  Legion.  As  a  citizen  he 
is  active  In  all  good  work  for  the  public  weal,  as  a  friend 
be  is  steadfast  and  true,  and  In  his  home  life  he  Is  tne 
ideal  American  gentleman.  Thus,  In  Colonel  Copp 
Nashua,  New  Hampshire  and  the  country  has  a  veteran  as 
patriotic,  brave  and  true  "  as  ever,  'mid  fire  and  smoke, 
planted  the  victorious  standard  of  his  country  on  ac 
enemy's  wi-iX  ; "  as  a  citizen  to  know  is  to  respect. 

WM.  O.  CLOUGB. 

The  invincible  monitor  ironclads  that  so 
much  was  expected  of,  had  (ailed  in  their  at- 
tack upon  Charleston,  in  April.  1863.  Baffled 
and  beaten  bacK  by  the  remarkably  handled 
gams  of  Fort  Sumter.  Battery  Wagner  and  other 
rebel  forts  in  Charleston  Harbor.  Commodore 


188 


STORIES    OF    OUR    SOLDIERS. 


Dupont.  with  his  crippled  fleet  of  ironclads, 
withdrew  from  the  fight,  two  of  his  vessels  in  a 
sinking  condition,  and  all  badly  used  no.  It  will 
be  remembere  i  by  the  older  veneration  what 
intense  interest  centred  upon  the  wonderful 
ironclad  fleet  i  hat  was  so  easily  to  sail  up  into 
Charleston  Harbor  and  capture  this  "  hot  ed 
of  secession."  80  great  was  the  disappoint- 
ment at  the  failure  of  the  navy  to  captur? 
Charleston  that  it  was  determined  to  make  an 
immediate  and  combined  attack  by  the  army 
ana  navy 


It  is  a  matter  of  history  that  in  the  operations 
following,  of  the  army  under  General  Quincy  A. 
Gillmore,  with  the  navy  co-operutirur,  known  as 
the  sie;.re  of  Charleston,  there  was  some  of  the 
hardest  experience  ever  known  in  -iege  opera- 
tions, some  of  the  most  desperate  lighting  of  tne 
war,  notably  the  capture  of  Morris  Island  from 
open  boats,  and  at  Fort  Wagner,  and  also  the 
greatest  of  heavy  artillery  firing  and  the  most 
audacious  of  military  engineering  in  the  world's 
history.  The  plan  of  the  attack  was  to  capture 
Morris  Island,  reduce  Fort  Sumter  by  the  com- 
bined attack  of  heavy  siege  guns  and  the  ir  m- 
«lad  navy,  and  the  fall  of  Charleston  would 
follow. 

Space  in  the  Journal  will  not  permit  of  (riving 
in  detail  the  history  of  this  wonderful  siege. 
But  of  something:  of  its  history,  "all  of  which  I 
saw,  a  part  of  which  I  was"  I  will  attempt. 

I  was  Acting  Adjutant  of  mv  regiment,  the 
Third  New  Hampshire  Volunteers,  taking  the 
place  of  Adjutant  Libby.  who  was  serving  upon 
the  staff  of  General  George  C.  Strong.  We  were 
upon  Folly  Island,  having  secured  a  foothold 
here,  making  it  a  temporary  base  of  operations ; 
1O.OOO  troops  under  Gen.  Quincy  A.  Gillmore 
had  been  concentrated. 

In  the  afternoon  of  July  9  Adjutant  Ldboy 
eame  into  my  tent  and  told  me  of  the  nlan  for 
the  capture  of  Morris  Island.  Our  brigade,  he 
said,  had  been  selected  as  the  assaulting  column. 
We  were  to  matte  the  attack  in  open  boats.  He 
was  very  much  elated  at  the  prospect  of  the 
glorious  part  we  were  to  take  as  the  Forlorn 
Hope.  1  can't  say  that  I  shared  his  enthusiasm. 
On  the  contrary,  to  the  best  of  my  recollec- 
tion, the  cold  shivers  ran  down  my  back,  well 
knowing  something  of  the  horrors  of  facing  a 
«omttined  artillery  and  musketry  fire,  under  the 
most  favorable  circumstances;  but  to  advance 
in  open  boats  against  the  bail  of  grape  and  can- 
teter  and  a  whirlwind  of  lead  and  exploding 
shell  called  for  the  courage  born  either  of  a 
reckless  disregard  of  life  or  a  martyr's  duty  to 
his  God  and  country. 

Libby  was  a  model  soldier,  courageous  and 
true.  He  was  spared  in  the  slaughter  in  the 
boat  attack,  but  was  killed  a  few  days  later  on 
the  slopes  of  Fort  Wager  in  that  terrible  charge 
so  graphically  described  in  the  Journal  of  Dec. 
29,  by  Sergeant  Carney. 

About  9  o'clock  on  the  evening  of  the  9th  of 
July,  we  mored  oat  of  camp  with  two  days' 


rations  of  hardtack  and  coffee:  marched  across 
to  the  westerly  side  of  the  island,  and  quietly 
embarked  in  boat*  that  lay  waiting  for  us  in  the 
creek.  Slowly  and  quietlj  we  moved  up  the 
stream  with  oars  muffled  and  every  voice 
hushed  that  the  enemy's  pickets  should  not  dis- 
cover our  approach. 

Arriving  at  the  mouth  of  Light  House  Inlet 
which  separates  Folly  Island  from  Morris 
Island,  a  halt  was  ordered,  and  under  the  cover 
of  the  tall  marsh  grasses  along  the  shore,  we 
waited  the  dawn  of  day.  Scarcely  have  the 
first  rays  of  daybreak  begun  to  show  itself  in 
the  East  when  we  hear  to  our  ri ,'ht,  upon  the 
extreme  northerly  end  of  Folly  Island,  in  the 
direction  of  our  masked  batteries,  the  sound  of 
axes  in  the  chopping  of  trees. 

We  wait  with  breathless  interest,  for  we 
know  this  to  be  the  prelude  to  the  signal  srnn 
that  will  announce  the  opening  of  our  batt  Ties. 
The  ironclad  fl -el  has  crossed  the  bar  and  is 
moving  up  into  position. 

The  enemy,  all  unconscious,  are  still  sleeping 
in  their  camps  on  Morris  Island,  less  than  a  mile 
away.  The  forest  in  front  of  our  batteries  falls 
as  by  ma^ic. 

The  signal  gun  booms  out  over  the  water, 
echoing  and  re-echoing  from  the  waters  to  the 
clouds  above.  Then  fifty  guns  and  mortars 
shake  the  islands  and  pour  a  deadly  shower  of 
missiles  into  the  camps  of  the  enemy. 

The  guns  of  our  ironclads  in  the  harbor  add 
to  the  din.  The  huge  16-inch  shells  from  our 
monitor  guns  go  ricocheting  over  the  water, 
itriking  the  sands  of  the  island,  throwing  cart 
loads  high  in  the  air,  exploding  with  deadly 
effect  and  with  the  noise  and  vibrations  of  an 
earthquake. 

The  enemy,  although  taken  by  surprise,  soon 
man  their  guns  and  heroically  serve  them  with 
unerring  aim.  For  two  hours  an  incessant  tire 
is  kept  up.  A  signal  has  been  given  to  General 
Strong  to  move  his  brigade  up  and  assault  the 
works. 

The  order  is  given  to  pull  out  and  on  we  move 
out  into  the  stream  in  full  view  of  the  rebel 
batterie*.  As  we  approach,  the  guns  of  our 
fleet  slacken  their  fire  for  fear  of  damage  to  our 
own  forces  and  the  enemy  divide  their  attention 
between  our  batteries  on  Folly  Island  and  our 
boat* 

On  we  poll,  preserving  our  formation  as  best 
we  can,  four  thousand  bayonets  flashing  in  the 
rays  of  the  riling  sun.  four  thousand  men  facing 
death.  A  shell  from  the  rebel  batteries  comes 
shrieking  over  our  heads  and  explores  beyond 
without  damage;  another  and  another  in  quick 
succession  explode  over  our  boats ;  several  are 
killed  and  wounded  by  the  flying  fragments. 

On  we  move.  "  Forward,"  shouts  Gen. 
Strong  from  the  leading  boat.  "  Forward  I 
Pull  for  your  lives! " 

The  boats  are  now  in  line  and  fairly  flying 
through  the  water.  The  rebel  infantry  are  now 
plainly  seen  upon  the  line  of  rifle  pits  upon  the 
shore,  and  have  opened  fire.  "Down.  down. 


'63  -VARYING  StICKTIY  TOM  JMLU, 


1)IA<JKAM    OF    THE    ASSAULT    ON    FORT    WAGNKK. 


THE    SIEGE    OF    CHARLESTON. 


191 


men.  and  get  what  protection  you  can  I  Poll. 
vail  harder  I" 

Nearer  and  nearer  we  approached  the  shore. 
The  leaden  hail  and  exploding  shell  is  thinning 
•our  ranks,  but  serve  not  to  checx  the  advance. 

Grimly  the  oarsmen  pull  at  tbeir  oars,  and 
with  blanched  faces,  but  firm  set  mouths  and 
like  statues,  our  men  stand  with  rides  firmly 
grasped,  ready  for  tbe  command  of  their  gallant 
*» 


A  shell  explodes  in  the  boat  next  to  my  own, 
killing  and  wounding  many.  The  boat  sinks, 
leavin  ;  a  struggling  m  iss  of  human  forms  in 
the  water,  reddened  with  the  bloou  of  the  dead 
and  wound e  I,  but  on,  on  we  pull;  striking  the 
beach,  out  jump  the  men,  some  in  water  waist 
deep. 

Ail  hastily  forming,  move  on  in  the  face  of  a 
deadly  tire  of  infantry  and  artillery  "Charge 
bayonets ! "  is  the  command. 

With  a  wild  yell,  out  aione  the  line  the  enemy 
are  routed  from  their  rifle  pits  and  earth  works 
upon  the  shore,  driven  back  from  battery  to 
battery  through  their  camps  over  the  sand  hills 
back  to  Fort  Wagner. 

From  Charleston  newspapers,  found  in  the 
captured  camp,  we  first  learned  of  the  victory  of 
Gettysburg  and  the  fall  of  Vicksburg.  AS  the 
troops  were  moving  forward  over  the  sand  hills 
and  up  the  beach  of  Morris  Is, and,  Lieut.  CoL 
Bedel,  our  gallant  old  fighting  Bedel,  came 
along  with  a  re  >el  newspaper  in  one  hand,  his 
hat  in  the  other,  shouting  at  the  top  of  his 
voice:  "Vicksburg  cauturedl  Big  victory  at 
Gettysburg!"  and.  in  his  wild  enthusiasm, 
grasped  me  around  the  neck,  lifting  me  from 
the  ground  in  a  way  that,  having  escaped  the 
shot  and  shell  of  the  enemy,  I  was  sure  I  was  to 
die  oi  strangulation. 

Added  to  our  own  victory  and  in  the  act  of 
following  up  a  retreating  enemy  the  enthusiasm 
of  men  knew  no  uouud»,  an  i,  with  wild  hurrahs 
and  vociierous  yells,  we  followed  up  the  panic- 
stricken  forces  of  Beauregard.  firing  into  tuem 
as  opportunity  offered,  till  they  reached  their 
stronghold— tort  Wagner.  Here  the  advance 
was  checked  uy  a  vigorous  fire  from  tbeir  in- 
fantry and  the  guns  of  Wagner.  Sumter— Wag- 
ner two  miles  and  Sumter  tnree  miles  away — 
and  other  reuel  torts  in  the  harbor,  they  having 
got  range  of  our  troops. 

Upon  the  approach  of  our  boats  to  the  shore 
many  of  our  men  jumped  too  quick.  General 
Strong  was  among  tiie  tirst  tojump,  went  into  the 
water  all  over,  lost  his  boots  in  the  mud.  his  hat 
floating  off  with  the  tide,  and  when  I  saw  the 
General  he  was  leading  his  brigade  in  the  ad- 
vance up  the  beach,  bootless  and  hatless, 
mounted  upon  a  uiminutive  mule,  or  jack,  cap- 
tured from  the  enemy. 

It  was  now  9  o'clock.  The  torrid  heat  of  the 
sun  upon  the  glaring  sands,  with  the  intense  ex- 
citement of  the  morning  had  added  greatly  to 
the  casualties  of  battle.  Manv  of  oar  men 
were  lying  dead  and  wounded  In  front  of  the 


rifle  pits  and  all  along  the  line  of  march  many 
were  prostrated  by  the  intense  heat. 

Pickets  were  thrown  oat  and  tbe  troops  wer* 
glad  to  seek  protection  behind  the  sand  bills  of 
the  isiaud  and  get  needeu  rest  and  rations. 

The  tiring  from  Wagner  had  now  become 
continuous,  and  occasional  shots  from  Fort 
buinter  and  from  Fun  Johnson  on  Jam^s  Isiaud 
can  e  plowing  along  the  broad  beach  and 
ricocheting  over  the  sand  bills  down  among 
our  mou.  A  group  oi  officers,  mvself  among 
the  number,  were  sitting  under  the  protection 
of  one  01  those  treacherous  sand  hills,  a  pail  of 
butter,  whicn  had  been  found  in  a  rebel  tent, 
between  us,  ana  we  were  enjoying  the  luxury  o£ 
hardtack  and  butter  when  an  unexplode  .  bheli 
came  plowing  over  tne  sands,  noun  ling  and 
striking  within  a  few  leet  of  us,  nearly  uurying 
the  whole  party  with  dirt,  and  demolishing  our 
pail  oi  butter,  striking  Coiouel  Bedel  upon  the 
leg  as  ho  sat  upon  the  ground,  wheeling  him 
around  and  over  and  over,  like  a  ten-pin. 

The  Colonel  was  soon  on  his  feet  again,  how- 
ever, covered  with  uirt,  his  eyes,  nose  and 
mouth  full  of  ic,  but  yelling  with  a  vigor  char- 
acteristic of  the  man  and  with  language  more 

forceful  than  elegant,  "Where  in  n is  our 

buiter?  Where's  our  butter?"  the  next  in- 
stant picking  up  the  sheil  a  few  rods  away 
with  the  i  use  still  burning,  threw  it  down  tbe 
beach  into  the  water. 

As  the  snot  and  shell  from  Sumter  and  Wag- 
ner came  tearing  down  tne  beach  and  over  th« 
sand,  our  men  found  sport  in  dodging  the  mis- 
siles; a  dangerous,  giiastly  sport  it  proved  in 
some  cases.  A  Whitworth  suot  came  from 
Sumter— a  Whitworth  shot,  by  the  way,  is  of 
peculiar  shape  and  proportions,  being  a  hexa- 
gon or  octagon,  some  two  to  three  feet  in  length, 
by  four  to  six.  inches. 

One  of  these  snots  from  Sumter  came  shriek- 
ing through  tne  air  like  a  liend  incarnate, 
passed  between  Col.  Jackson  and  myself,  stand- 
ing within  a  few  leet  of  eaca  other,  striding 
one  ot  our  men,  severing  his  uody  liKe  a  stroke 
of  a  guillotine. 

Another  man.  Corporal  McCoy  of  Company  F, 
had  thrown  himself  to  tne  earth  to  escape  A 
shot  or  sheil  he  saw  coming,  but  he  was  directly 
in  its  path.  The  ball  striking  the  ground,  bound- 
ing a  hundred  feet  or  more,  struck  the  Corporal 
in  the  back,  killing  him  instantly. 

We  had  gained  a  lootnoiq  upon  the  island, 
but  now  long  we  could  hold  it.  or  what  further 
advance  could  be  made,  was  uncertain.  Fort 
Wagner,  the  strongest  earth  work  uuon  the  coast, 
Stood  between  us  an  i  Charleston,  and  must  be 
reduced  before  further  progress  could  be  made. 
An  assault  upo  .  the  works  mi.de  the  following 
morning,  tbe  llth  of  July,  met  witu  disastrous 
failure,  and  demonstrated  the  fact  that  a  much 
larger  force  would  be  necessary  to  make  further 
advance.  Troops  were  hurrie  >  over  from  r'olly 
Island  and  from  other  points  in  the  department, 
BO  that  in  a  few  days  more  than  10,000  men 
were  encamped  on  Morris  Island.  General  Gilt- 
more  established  his  heauquariers  well  back 
near  Luruthouse  Inlet,  and  was  personally  di- 


192 


STORIES    OF    OUR    SOLDIERS. 


reeling  operations.  Breastworks  wore  hastily 
constructed,  reaching  across  the  island,  grans 
an  i  war  material  were  landed  by  shiploads  and 
placed  in  position  as  rapidly  as  possible  for  de- 
fence, and  also  preliminary  to  another  assault 
upon  Fort  Wagner. 

The  18th  of  July  was  faxed  unon  for  the 
assault.  After  a  terrific  bombardment  of  ten  or 
twelve  hours  from  the  guns  of  our  land  batter- 
ies aud  navy  the  assault  was  made  after  night- 
fall. 

The  genius  of  a  Dante  could  but  faintly 
portray  the  horrors  of  that  night  attack,  the 
charge  across  the  narrow  neck  of  the  island  in 
front  of  the  fort,  the  murderous  tire  of  the 
enemy's  infantry  an  I  of  snell  and  grape  and 
canister  into  the  crowded,  confused  mas-  of  our 
troops,  and  of  the  struggle  10  hold  the  works 
after  saining  a  foothold.  The  brave  Col  Put- 
nam of  the  Seventh  New  Hampshire  Regiment, 
standing  on  the  parapet  of  Wagner,  with  sword 
aloft,  with  voice  above  the  din  of  the  battle, 
calling  upon  his  brave  men  to  follow  him,  fell 
by  rebel  bullets. 

That  brave  leader  of  the  charging  column, 
General  Strong,  had  already  fallen  inside  the 
enemy's  works,  and  our  own  Adjutant  LJbby, 
true  to  his  chief,  was  with  him  in  death. 
Co  onel  Shaw  of  the  Fifty-fourth  Massachusetts 
colored  troops,  with  hundreds  ot  his  brave  men, 
had  vindicated  the  right  of  liberty  to  all  men. 
He  fell  and  was  literally  buried  under  the 
bodies  of  his  followers. 

Colonel  Bedel  was  taken  a  prisoner  by  the 
enemy  while  leading  where  his  men  did  not 
follow,  owing  to  tiie  contusion  of  orders  and 
the  blackness  of  the  night.  Thousands  of 
other  brave  men  on  that  fearful  night  were 
alike  martyrs  in  the  cause  of  humanity 
ana  victims  of  an  incompetent  leader  Dack  in 
the  camp  of  Morris  Island. 


The  charge  upon  Wagner  takes  rank  with 
the  hottest  battles  of  the  war,  and,  indeed,  of 
history,  tne  loss — over  33  per  cent  of  the  num- 
bers engaged— being  very  rarely  exceeded,  but, 
like  many  other  hard-fought  battles,  being 
shorn  of  a  victory  alruo-t  within  our  grasp  by 
the  woeful  failure  of  the  support  to  come  up  at 
the  critical  moment. 

By  all  known  rules  of  war  the  failure  to 
capture  Fort  Wagner,  the  movement  against 
Charleston  by  this  line  of  operations  would 
end.  out  not  so  with  General  Gil, more. 

A  few  months  previous  to  this  time  he  had 
made  a  world-wide  reputation  as  a  most,  skillful 
engineer  by  the  re  iuction  and  capture  of  Fort 
Pulaski  at  the  mouth  of  the  Savannah  River 
with  bis  siege  guns  and  mortars  upon  Tibee 
Island,  more  than  a  mile  away.  In  the  emer- 
gency that  now  confronted  him  the  name  tac- 
tics were  at  his  command,  and  how  skillfully 
made  use  of  the  world  already  knows. 


Fort  Sumter  lay  two  miles  and  more  from  our 
nearest  guns  on  Morris  Island,  and  the  reduc- 
tion of  Sumter  over  the  heads  of  the  garrison 
and  guns  of  Fort  Wagner  has  not  ceased  to  be  a 


marvel.  At  the  end  of  the  bombardment  it  lay 
a  ma>s  of  rubuish,  every  gun  dismounted,  and 
ever  after  served  only  am  a  bomb  proof  for  its 
garrison.  Why  the  navy  aid  not  sail  up  to  the 
wharves  of  the  city  ot  Charleston  after  the 
capture  of  Morris  Island  and  alter  ihe  guns  of 
Sumter  were  silenced,  history  does  noi,  tell  us. 

During  the  wnold  time  of  the  >inge  the  troops 
not  on  duty  in  the  trenches  were  spectators  of 
the  grandest  spectacular  exhibition  the  world, 
ever  saw.  Tne  sauu  hills,  uactc  out  of  range  of 
the  guns  of  the  enemy,  altliougu  an  occasional 
shot  did  reach  us,  were  covered  with  men 
watching  the  tiring  of  our  own  guns  and  mor- 
tars and  tho.ie  of  the  enemy. 

Hundreds  of  guns  of  all  calibre,  from  thirty 
pounds  to  three  hundred  pounaers,  were  con- 
tinually belching  forth,  as  irom  the  depths  of 
regions  internal,  tire  and  destruction.  The 
sight  was  grandeur  in  its  highest  exeiHolitioa- 
tion,  particularly  at  night;  the  air  tilled  with 
shot  and  shell,  describing  with  tueir  fuses 
trains  oi  tire  in  all  directions  through  the 
heavens,  the  trembling  ot  the  earth  beneath  us 
as  by  the  Almighty's  hand,  with  the  deaieuing 
roar  and  thunuering  01  the  guns,  vieiug  with 
and  exceeding  the  most  terrific  of  heavens' 
artillery,  was  a  fascination  that  held  me  spell- 
bound, knowing  with  each  explosion  in  the 
treiicnes  of  our  works  that  lay  before  us  a  life 
was  the  forfeit  or  the  wounded  boay  of  some 
of  our  boys  was  the  accomplished  fiendish 
work. 


Lieut.  \Vadleigh  of  our  regiment — and  a  no 
more  stalwart,  loval  and  brav«  soldier  ever 
went  irom  .New  Hampshire— was  detailed  for 
special  duty  in  the  Engineer  Corps,  and  was  in 
immediate  command  ot  the  fatigue  party  that 
mounted  the  celebrated  gun  sw,.mp  angel.  It 
will  be  remembered  that  this  gun  reached 
Charleston  with  its  shell,  loaded  with  Greek 
fire,  and  set  on  fire  and  destroyed  a  portion  of 
the  city,  but  alter  some  30  rounds  the  uuu  ex- 
ploded. 

This  is  the  gun  that  Col.  Serreil  of  the  En- 
gineer Corps  declared  could  not  be  mounted  in 
the  piace  indicated  by  Gen.  Gill  more  without 
the  authorities  .urnished  him  50  men,  18  feet 
tall,  to  erect  a  battery  in  swamps  1 5  feet  deep, 
and  for  which  he  made  requisition  in  due  form. 

After  the  reuuctiou  of  Fort,  Wagner  and  Bat- 
tery (jtreg<c  ana  the  occupation  of  the  entire 
island,  Charleston  was  shelled  from  Cummiug's 
Point.  It  was  d  uring  this  time  that  two  Lines 
ma  .e  their  appearance  upon  the  island,  armed 
with  authority  irom  the  Secretary  of  War  to 
visit  any  point  in  the  department.  I  under- 
stood at  the  time  thai  they  were  nieces  ol  Sec- 
retary Stan  ton. 

Tney  were  very  desirous  of  visiting  Cum- 
miug's  Point,  the  place  made  historic  from  its 
being  the  spot  from  which  the  first  guns  of  the 
war  opened  fire  upon  Fort  Sumter  in  1861. 
Uuder  prpper  e.->cort  tiiey  rode  up  to  the  front. 

The  firing  upon  Charleston  had  not  wholly 
ceased,  ana  wuile  the  ladies  were  there  tne 
officer  in  command,  much  against  the  protest*- 


GENERAL    GILMORE's    OPERATIONS. 


193 


tion  of  the  ladies,  continued  his  firing  upon  the 
eity.    They  declared  it  most  cruel- 

They  soon  became  interested,  however,  in  the 
artillerist's  scientific  explanation  of  the  work- 
ing of  ihe  gun.  its  elevation  ami  amount  of  pow- 
der, and  as  to  distance,  etc.,  etc.  Finally  one  of 
the  ladies  in  her  enthusiasm  s  -ized  the  lanyard 
and  with  an  exclamation  "Oh  I  how  cruel!" 
discharge'!  the  gun.  sending  its  iron  message 
into  Charleston. 

In  front  of  Fort  Wasjner  was  a  long,  low 
morass,  which,  at  higii  tide,  was  nearly  covered 
with  water.  It  was  over  this  treacherous 
ground  that  Gen.  Gillrnore  constructed  his  ap- 
proaches to  the  fort. 

'ihe  immensity  of  the  work  and  the  obstacles 
overcome  were  something  new  in  the  history  of 
siege  operations.  The  construction  of  parallel 
lines  in  the  operation  of  napping  and  mining  in 
an  approach  to  the  enemy's  works  is  a  hazard- 
ous operation  under  the  most  favorable  con- 
ditions, but  when  it  is  known  that  for  a  mile  or 
more  the  entire  mass  of  sand  and  other  ma 
trrial  for  the  construction  of  the  immense 
earthworks  with  their  bomb-proofs,  was  car- 
ried forward  upon  the  backs  of  men  in  sand 
haars  and  otherwise,  the  wonderful  genius  of 
Gillmore  and  the  courage  and  endurance  of  our 
soldiers  can  be  better  understood,  an'l  this,  too. 
under  a  constant  fire  ol  the  enemy  from  Fort 


Wagner  and  other  forts  in  Cnarleston  Harbor. 
The  alert  sharpshooter  was  also  getting  in  his 
deadly  work.  The  last  parallel  was  run  into 
the  ditch  of  Fort  Wagner,  the  enemy  still  hold- 
ing the  fort. 

Morris  Island,  in  common  with  many  of  thj 
islands  upon  the  Southern  coa<t.  is  constantly 
changing  its  formation  by  the  action  of  the 
winds  and  tries,  and  to-day  the  waters  of  the 
Atlantic  peacefully  flow  over  the  site  of  the 
great  Fort  Wagner  and  the  graves  in  and 
around  it  of  those  who  fell  in  that  terrible 
char-re  of  July  18  an<l  the  days  following. 

A  complete  history  in  all  its  details  of  the 
siege  of  Charleston  would  fill  many  volumes, 
but,  having  already  exceeded  the  limit  of 
reasonable  space  in  the  Journal,  I  must  bring 
this  rambling  story  to  an  end.  If  I  have  failed 
in  giving  to  the  readers  of  the  Journal  a  correct 
statement  ol'  t.ie  events  of  whic.i  the  Third 
New  Hampshire  Regiment  was  a  part,  it  has 
been  irom  the  treachery  of  my  recollection. 

To  mention  by  name  all  of  the  heroic  officers 
and  men  of  the  old  Third  Regiment  who  are 
worthy  of  mention  for  deeds  of  daring  and  of 
special  gallantry,  would  need  more  space  than 
in  ttiis  article  is  allowed.  Many  brave  boys 
fell  in  the  thickest  of  the  fight  and  their  bodies 
lie  in  unknown  graves,  but  the  glory  of  their 
deeds  live  on.  The  cause  of  humanity  in  which 
they  fought  and  in  wnicli  so  many  gave  their 
lives  was  directed  by  the  Great  Commander  of 
all  and  their  record  is  safe.  E.  J.  COPP. 


STORIES    OF    GEN.    GILMORE'S    OPERATIONS. 


Among  the  able  engineers  of  the  Union  army 
was  Quincy  A.  Gillmore.  who  conceived  and  con- 
ducted the  ftieze  and  reduction  of  Fort  Pulaski, 
on  Cockspur  Island,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Savan 
nah  River,  in  the  spring  of  1862.  At  that  date 
bricE  and  stone  were  considered  a  defence 
against  the  artillery  then  in  use.  When  the 
re  els  discovered  the  Union  forces  on  Tybee 
Island  they  had  no  idea  that  in  a  month  or  so 
Pulaski  would  be  a  wreck,  for  how  was  Gen. 
Sherman  to  get  his  batteries  in  position  under 
the  guns  of  the  fort.  Captain  Glllmore  cut 
bushes,  transported  them  up  the  inland  in 
the  night,  and  stuck  a  few  of  them  into 
the  ground  in  range  in  several  places 
where  he  wanted  a  battery.  The  next  night  he 
placed  a  few  more,  and  the  next  more,  and  so 
night  alter  night  until  a  sufficient  number  had 
Deen  set  to  cover  a  working  party.  These 
bushes  had  been  put  there  so  quietly  that  the 
garrison  had  not  discovered  the  changes  in  the 
landscape.  The  shovel  brigade  was  put  to 
work,  then  the  guns— rifle  and  smooth-bore  — 
were  put  in  position,  and  therebel  commandant 
was  invited  to  surrender.  The  reply  of  Colonel 
Lamb  was  that  he  was  there  "to  defend  the 
fort— not  to  surrender  it."  It  was  said 
that  General  R  E.  Lee  remarked  that 
we  might  as  well  "bombard  the  Rocky 
Mountains  from  Tybee  Island  as  Fort  Pulaski.' 
Other  eminent  engineers  questioned  our  .suc- 
cess. It  is  said  that  General  H.  G.  Wright,  who 


constructed  Fort  Clinch  at  Fernandina.  after- 
ward commander  of  the  Old  Sixth  Corps,  re- 
marked that  we  might  "fill  Pu  aski  full  of  shot 
and  shell  and  we  could  not  break  it,"  but  in 
three  days  of  pounding  a  big  hole  was  there, 
the  magazine  was  in  danger,  and  the  Stars  and 
Stripes  floated  'over  what  was  lett  of  it.  Gon- 
eral  Gill  more  repeated  the  game  at  the  upper  end 
of  Folly  Island  in  the  spring  of  '63,  not- 
withstanding their  tall  lookout  on  James  Island. 
He  placed  47  guns  and  mortars  in  position 
and  opened  them  across  Lighthouse  Inlet,  much 
to  the  surprise  of  the  enemy,  who  were  just  on 
the  move  to  come  over  and  take  the  few  pickets 
that  might  be  on  duty  there.  Many  incidents 
of  interest  occurred  that  never  have  appeared 
in  print  The  capture  of  the  rebel  sharpshoot 
ers  in  front  of  Wagner  will  long  be  remem- 
bered. Colonel  Montgomery  was  the  general 
Officer  01  the  Day  and  had  charge  of  the  affair. 
He  said  to  me:  "Lieutenant,  do  you  want  to  go 
with  me  to-nigh o  and  see  a  racket?"  An 
affirmative  was  our  reply.  Those  sharpshooters 
were  bothering  our  gunners.  Two  companies 
of  the  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  were  se- 
lected for  ihe  work,  so  with  a  musket  in  one 
hand  and  shovel  in  the  other,  at  the  signal — Col. 
M.  dropping  his  handkerchief— away  they  went, 
running  on  to  the  Johnnies;  handing  them  a 
shovel  with  an  order  to  "dig,"  the  rifle  pita 
were  soon  reversed  and  occupied  by  Yankees, 
who  cautioned  the  rebel  gunners  on  Wagner  to 


194 


STORIES    OF    OUR    SOLDIERS. 


keep  oat  of  range.  Bat  what  a  racket  this  little 
event  caused  away  round  to  oar  right  Moul- 
trie.  on  Sullivan's  Island,  was  arlame.  Battery 
Gregg  opened,  Fort  \\ajrner,  Johnson  (Mother 
Johnson,  we  use  1  to  call  her),  Sumter, 
Si  nip  kins,  Pascal  and  Cheaves,  on  James 
Island,  all  saluted  as  with  shot  and  shell,  Wag- 
ner with  grape  and  canister.  The  Fourth  New 
Hampshire  Volunteers  were  in  the  trenches 
that  night,  an  I  they  held  close  to  the;  homo 
proofs.  The  Johnnie'rf  were  a  good  deal  irritated 
by  this  little  episo  le. 

Col.  Montgomery  said  to  me  more  than  once: 
"If  I  was  in  command  1  woal  i  blow  that  old 
Moultrie  house  that  the  reiig  are  using  for  a 
hospital  into  the  middle  of  next  week.  They  will 
play  some  trick  with  it  ym,"  and  sure  enough, 
it  came  about  1  o'clock  one  dark  night;  a  heavy 
battery  opene  I  on  us  awav  to  the  right  We 
thought  the  rebel  fleet  came  down  the  harbor 
and  ouened  on  us.  So  the  long  roll  awoke  the 
echoes.  "Fall  out  I"  and  "Fall  inl"  came  the 


quick  commands  of  every  company  com- 
mander on  the  island,  and  we  doubled 
quicke  I  UP  and  down  the  shore  "to 
repel  boarders,"  if  necessary.  Well,  come 
daylight,  what  was  it?  I  he  rebs  had  built  a 
fort  in  rear  of  this  "hospital  "  that  we  had  re- 
spected, and  removed  the  wilding  and  opened 
on  us  an  i  so  disturbed  our  tranquillity.  It  weak- 
ened our  confidence  in  rebel  honesty  for  several 
days. 

Gen.  Gillmore  was  surprised  once.  His  com- 
mission came — a  Major  General's — in  the  night. 
His  staff  changed  the  buttons  and  .shoulder 
straps  on  his  coat.  It  did  not  seem  to  him  to 
look  natural;  he  survived,  however.  Then  the 
grand  review.  Coming  off  guard  duty  soon, 
those  who  were  standing  near  heard  him  say: 
"The  Fifty-fourth  Massachusetts  (colored)  is 
not  excelled  in  flue  marching."  Then  we  felt 
proa  i  of  our  brigade  and  all  other  brigades  in 
the  Union  army. 

8   P.  HUBBABB. 


SUMTER  S    BATTERED    WALL. 


HERO  OF  FORT  WAGNER. 


tergetmt  William  H.  Carney,  the  hero  of  Fort  Wagner, 
••me  to  New  Bedford  from  the  South  when  quite  a  young 
m»».  He  was  mustered  Into  Company  C,  fifty -fourth 
Massachusetts  Volunteers,  March  30,  1863.  At  Port 
Wagner  he  was  seriously  wounded,  as  the  following  nar- 
rative t«lls,  in  the  memorable  assault  of  July  18, 
and  was  obliged  to  remain  in  the  hospital  at  Beau- 
fort until  December  of  that  year.  Then  he  rejoined 
tus  regiment,  participating  In  its  fortunes  until  the  com- 
mand was  mustered  out,  Aug.  29, 1866.  Sergeant  Car- 
Bey  helped  organize  Robert  O.  Shaw  Post  146,  G.  A.  R.,  of 
3ew  Bedford,  named  in  memory  of  hi*  old  Colonel,  and 
was  iu  first  commander. 

Among  the  most  honored  of  New  Bedford's 
•r.ire.  will  ever  be  held  the  name  of  Sergeant 
William  H.  Carney,  the  hero  of  Fort  Wagner, 
Mid  as  long  as  deeds  of  valor  shall  be  told,  the 
story  of  this  colored  soldier's  bravery  will  be  re- 
•eated. 

Many  years  has  his  familiar  form  been  seen 
passing  through  New  Be  (ford's  busiest  streets, 
•lad  in  the  uniform  which  Uncle  Sam  furnishes 
for  his  letter  carriers,  and  while  time  has  gen- 
erously sprinkled  his  beard  with  gray,  and  has 
force  1  upon  him  the  use  of  spectacles,  the 
iprinirr  step  ol  the  gallant  Sergeant  has  lost 
tattle  of  its  youthful  vuor.  It  needs  but  a  men* 
Mon  of  Fort  Wanner  to  cause  the  kindly  eyes  to 
•nao  and  t  tie  well-knit  form  to  straighten  back 
proudly  as  bents  one  who  remembered  his  duty 
to  his  country  oefore  himself. 

The  story  of  Morris  Island  and  the  assaults  on 
Fort  Wagner  is  a  matter  of  history.  An  expedi- 
tion against  Charleston.  S.  C..  havinar  been  con- 
templated, the  military  occupation  of  Morns 
Island,  a  low  sand  islan<i  about  rive  miles  long 
on  the  south  sMe  of  Charleston  Harbor,  was 
deeme  I  necessary,  and  Gen.  Quincy  A.  Qillmore 
was  placed  in  charge  01  ihe  project.  He  toon 
possession  of  the  south  end  of  the  island  on  July 
1O.  1863,  and  on  the  llth  and  18ih  made  two 
attempts  to  caoture  Fort  Wagner,  near  the 
nortli  end,  by  assault,  his  object  being  to  get 
within  more  effective  breaching  distance  of  Fort 
Blunter.  His  efforts,  however,  were  unsuccess- 


ful, and  it  was  determined  to  reduce  Fort  Wagr 
ner  by  a  regular  siege.  After  various  maneu- 
vresa  bombardment  was  begun  Sept.  5,  lasting 
42  hours.  It  was  determined  to  carry  the  place 
by  storm  on  the  next  day.  but  during  the  night 
tne  enemy  evacuated  the  fort  and  Gen.  Gillmore 
became  master  of  the  whole  island. 


But  it  is  with  the  Fifty- fourth  Massachusetts, 
commanded  by  Colonel  Kooert  G.  Shaw,  with 
which  my  story  has  chietiy  to  deal.  Company 
C  of  this  regiment  was  recruited  among  the 
young  colored  men  in  New  Bedford,  and  Ser- 
geant Carney,  who  was  later  to  win  undying 
fame  at  Wagner,  was  one  of  its  Sergeants. 

On  the  memorable  18th  of  July,  when  the 
second  assault  on  Wagner  was  made,  Gen.  Gill- 
more  or  lered  his  reserves,  the  Third  Brigade, 
in  which  was  the  Fifty-fourth,  to  advnuce. 
What  the  brigade  and  regiment  did  in  the  des- 
perate charge  was  toid  by  an  eye-witness,  the 
New  York  Tribune  correspondent,  in  ttie  follow- 
ing language ' 

"  At  the  instant  the  line  was  seen  slowly  ad- 
vancing in  the  dusk  toward  the  fort,  and  be- 
fore a  double  quick  had  been  ordered,  a  tre- 
mendous fire  from  the  barbette  guns  on  Fort 
suinter,  from  the  batteries  on  Cummings  Point, 
and  from  all  the  guns  on  Fort  W  agner.  opened 
upon  it.  In  the  midst  ol  this  terrible  shower 
of  t>hot  and  shell  they  pushed  their  way, 
reached  the  for,,  dashed  through  the  ditches, 
gained  the  parapet  and  engaged  in  a  hand-to- 
hand  tight  with  the  enemy,  and,  for  nearly  half 
an  hour,  held  their  ground,  and  aid  not  fall 
back  until  every  commissioned  officer  was  shot 
down.  These  brave  men  were  exposed  to  a  most 
galling  fire  of  grape  an  1  canister  from  the 
howitzers,  raking  the  ditches,  from  bas- 
tions of  the  fort,  from  hand  grenades  aud 
from  almost  every  modern  implement  of  war- 
fare." 

Gallantly  did  Sergeant  Carney  conduct  him- 
self during  this  terrible  blast,  which  seemed 
like  an  outpour  from  the  very  gates  of  hull. 
But  let  him  tell  his  story  in  his  own  modest 
way: 

"  On  the  18th  of  July,  1863,  about  noon,  wo 
commenced  to  draw  near  this  great  fort  under  9 


196 


STORIES   OF   OUR   SOLDIERS. 


tremendous  cannonading:  from  the  fleet  directly 
noon  the  fort.  When  we  were  within  probably 
ft thousand  yards  of  the  fort  we  baited  and  lay 
flat  uoon  the  ground,  waiting  for  the  order 
to  charge.  The  brave  CoL  Shaw  and 
Hi*  Adjutant,  in  company  with  General 
Strong,  came  forward  and  addressed  the 
regiment  with  encouraging  words.  Gen.  Strong 
said  to  the  regiment.  '  Men  of  Massachusetts,  are 
you  ready  to  take  that  fort  to-night?'  And  the 
regiment  simultaneously  answered  'Yes.'  Then 
followed  three  cheers,  proposed  by  General 
Strong,  for  the  regiment,  three  cheers  for  Col. 
Shaw,  three  cheers  for  Governor  Andrew  and 
Massachusetts,  and  three  cheers  fer  General 
Strong. 

''We  were  all  ready  for  the  charge,  and  the 
regiment  started.  We  had  got  but  a  short  dis 
tance  when  we  were  opened  upon  with  mus- 
ketry, shell,  grape  and  canister,  which  mowed 
down  our  men  right  and  left 

"As  the  color-liearer  became  disabled  I  threw 
away  my  gun  and  • 

making  my  way  to  the  head  of  the  column,  but 
before  I  reached  there  the  line  had  descended 
the  embankment  into  the  ditch  and  was  mak 
ing  its  way  upon  Wagner  itself. 

"While  going  down  the  embankment  our 
column  was  stanch  and  full.  As  we  ascended 
the  breastworKs  the  volleys  of  grapeshot  which 
came  from  right  and  left,  and  of  musketry  in 
front,  mowed  the  men  down  as  a  scytne  would 
mow  the  thick  grass.  In  less  than  twenty 
minutes  I  found  myself  alone,  struggling  upon 
the  ramparts,  while  all  around  me  were  the 
dead  and  wounded,  lying  one  upon  another. 
Here  I  said,  '  I  cannot  go  into  the  fort  alone,' 
and  so  I  halted  and  knelt  down,  holding  the 
flag  in  rnv  hand. 

"  While  tnere  me  musket  Dans  ana  grapeshot 
were  flying  all  around  me,  and  as  they  struck 
the  sand  would  fly  in  my  lace.  I  knew  my  posi 
tion  was  a  critical  one.  and  1  began  to  watch  to 
see  if  I  would  be  let  alone.  Discovering  that 
the  forces  had  renewed  their  attack  further 
to  the  right,  and  the  enemy's  attention  being 
drawn  thither.  I  turned_  and  discovered  a 
battalion  of  men  coming  toward  me  on 
the  ramparts  of  Wagner.  Thev  proceeded  until 
they  were  in  front  of  me,  and  I  raised  my  flag 
and  started  to  join  them,  when  from  the  light 
of  the  cannon  discharged  on  the  fort  I 

1  wound  the  colors  around  the  staff  and  made 
my  way  down  the  parapet  into  the  ditch,  which 
was  without  water  when  1  crossed  it  before,  but 
was  now  tilled  with  water  that  came  up  to  my 
waist. 

"Out  of  tne  number  that  came  up  with  me 
there  was  no  man  moving  erect  save  myself, 
although  they  were  not  all  dead,  but  wounded. 

"In  rising  to  see  if  I  could  determine  my 
course  to  the  rear,  the  bullet  I  now  carry  in  my 
body  came  whizzing  like  a  mosquito. 

"  I  was  shot.    Not   being   prostrated    by  the 


snot  1  continued  my  coarse,  yet  had  not  gone 
far  before  I  was  struck  by  a  second  shot 

"  Soon  after  1  saw  a  man  coming  toward  me, 
and  when  within  halting  distance  I  asked  him 
who  he  was.  He  replied :  '  I  belong  to  the  One 
Hundredth  New  York.'  and  then  inquired  if  I 
were  wounded.  Upon  my  replying  in  the 
affirmative,  he  came  to  my  assistance  and  helped 
me  to  the  rear.  'Now.  then.' said  he.  'lei  me 
take  the  colors  and  carry  them  for  you.' 

"My  reply  was  that  I  would  not  give  them  w> 
any  man  unless  he  belonged  to  the  Fifty-fourth 
Regiment. 

"So  we  pressed  on.  but  did  not  go  far  before  1 
was  wounded  in  the  head.  We  came  at  length 
within  hailing  distance  of  the  rear  guard,  who 
caused  us  to  halt,  and,  upon  asking  us  who  we 
were  and  finding  I  was  wounded,  took  us  to 
the  rear  and  through  the  guard.  An  officer 
came,  and  after  taking  my  name  and  regiment, 
put  us  in  charge  of  the  hospital  corps,  telling 
them  to  find  my  regiment. 

"  When  we  finally  reached  the  latter  the  men 
cheered  me  and  the  flag.  My  reply  was,  '  Boys, 
the  old  flag 

The  Sergeant's  eyes  onghten  as  ne  tells  the 
story,  his  closely-knit  form  straightens  and  the 
blood  courses  through  his  veins  with  the  vigor 
of  youih.  as  the  memory  of  that  glorious  expe- 
rience returns.  ''The  truest  courage  and  de- 
termination were  manifested  on  both  sides  on 
that  day  at  Fort  Wagner."  tie  continues.  "There 
was  no  longer  a  question  as  to  the  valor  of 
Northern  negroes,  ihe  assault  on  Fort  Wagner 
completely  removed  all  prejudices  in  the  de- 
partment. 

"General  Gillmore  issued  an  order  forbidding 
all  distinction  to  ue  made  among  the  troops  in 
his  commau  I,  so  that,  while  we  lost  hundreds 
of  our  numbers,  we  nevertheless  were  equal  in 
all  things  save  the  pay. 

"  However,  while  the  Government  refused  to 
pay  us  equally,  we  continued  to  tight  for  the  free- 
dom of  the  enslaved  and  for  the  restoration  of 
our  country.  We  did  this,  not  only  at  Wagner, 
but  also  in  the  battles  on  James  Island.  Money 
Hill.  Olustee  and  at  Boykiu's  Mill." 

Probably  the  occasion  which  will  live  longest 
in  Sergeant  Carney's  memory,  next  to  the  Bat- 
tle of  Fort  Wagner,  is  the  visit  of  Gen.  Russell 
A.  Alger  to  New  Bedford  in  January.  1890.  The 
Sergeant  made  a  speech  at.  the  dinner  given  in 
the  General's  honor,  and  after  the  tumultuous 
applause  which  followed  had  subsided,  Com- 
mander Aiger  (he  was  ^National  Commander  of 
the  Grand  Army  at  that  time)  arose 
Ironi  his  place  at  the  head  of 
the  table  and  marched  dowu  to  where  the  hero 
of  Fort  Wagner  was  seated.  Grasping  his  hand 
and  pointing  to  a  gold  medal  upon  the  colored 
soldier's  breast,  a  me  lal  awarded  by  Congress 
for  bravery— Gen  Alger  said  to  the  Sergeant. 
"I  want  to  congratulate  you.  I  would  rather 
carry  that  badge  thai;  to  receive  any  office  in 
the  gift  of  the  people  of  the  United  Slates." 

WALTER  H.  B  REMINGTON. 


SERGEANT    CARNEY    ON    THE   RAMPARTS    OF    WAGNER. 


197 


ANECDOTES  OF  A  COLORED  VETERAN. 


199 


ANECDOTES  ABOUT  A  COLORED  VETERAN. 


1  have  read  with  a  great  deal  of  interest  the 
aeries  of  war  articles  which  you  are  pu-llsliing 
V\  your  valuable  paper.  Though  not  an  old 
"vet"  myselt,  nor  yet  a  soldiers  son,  yet  1  think 
1  take  as  much  interest  in  the  stories  of 
the  great  war  as  ttie  mail  who  fought  in  it  My 
father  lost  a  dearly  oeloved  brother,  wtio  left 
his  young  bride  of  a  few  weeks  and  marched 
away  10  the  battlefield,  only  to  fall  by  a  rebel 
bullet  in  almost  the  first  engagement.  As  1  was 
reading  an  account  in  the  Journal  the  other  day 
I  tnougnt  that  perhaps  some  ot  the  readers  of 
the  uaper  would  like  to  hear  the  narrative  of  an 
old  colored  soldier  who  followed  the  tlag  for 
more  than  two  years,  who  was  at  Fort  Pillow, 
and  was  with  Siierman  in  his  famous  march  to 
to  the  sea,  and  who  was  never  tired  of  singing 
the  praises  of  "Ole  Uncle  billy." 

1  spent  some  lime  at  Westneid  three  years  ago. 
and  while  there,  one  day,  as  I  was  goiiiK  down 
the  steps  of  the  house.  I  heard  the  sound  of 
some  one  sawing  wood,  and  uoiug  around  the 
corner  of  tiie  house  I  saw  this  old  colored  man 
working  away  as  if  his  life  depended  on  his 
jretiiug  all  that  coru  of  wood  done  before  night. 
I  got  to  talking  witu  the  old  man.  and  soon 
found  out  that  he  was  an  old  Union  soldier,  and 
that  he  had  a  store  of  tales,  all  very  interesting. 
About  the  men  and  events,  as  he  had  seen  them. 
in  the  late  "wan."  One  day  he  told  about  his 
marvelous  escaue  from  Fort  Pillow,  an  i  i  will 
try  and  mvo  it  as  he  told  me.  in  his  quaint,  old 
darky  dialect. 

lie  sail  I  that  in  the  early  part  of  the  fight  he 
•was  struck  "all  in  a  heap,"  as  he  expressed  it. 
by  a  spent  ball,  and  when  he  came  to  his  senses 
the  "rebs"  were  all  around  him.  lie  saw  more 
•than  one  deed  that  was  worthy  of  barbarians 
done  by  thoso  men  in  gras\  He  said.  "Dero 
•was  Tom  Jolmsiu-r.  my  friend  with  whom  I  was 
ju>t  done  talking  with  dai  morning,  an'  a  big 
re»el  stick  he  bay'n<n  ngut  troo'  him.  and  den 
laffed  at  him  as  poor  Tom  lay  dere  groaning  on 
de  groun'."  All  this  was  done  although  Torn 
had  surrendered,  and  was  begging  for  mercy 
when  killed,  nis  own  escape  from  deatn  was 
a  little  short  ot  marvelous.  As  he  lay  there  on 
the  ground,  "Playm"  possum."  a  rebel  Captain, 
who  thought  he  was  not  yet  dead,  tired  his  re 
yolver  at  the  old  man.  "An"  what  do  you  think. 
sah,  de  bullet  carried  away  part  of  my  ear." 
said  the  old  darky.  And  *ure  enou-jn,  as  he 
turned  his  head  toward  me  for  inspection,  I 
saw  that  a  small  part  of  his  ear  was  really  gone 
Well,  he  lay  there  on  the  ground  all  day.  coun 
terteiiing  death,  and  when  nuht  came  he  crept 
away  in  the  darkness,  narrowly  escaping  tho 
rebel  sentries,  to  the  gunuoats  in  the  river. 

One  day  1  asked  nim  "if  he  wasn't  frightened 
when  he  went  into  his  first  battle?"  "Fright- 
ened," said  he.  "  why.  1  was  do  scaredest  man* 
you  eber  see-  In  de  first  battle  we  was  or- 
dered to  charge  the  rebels,  who  were  in  de 
woods  a  little  way  to  de  right.  When  1  hear 
de  ballets  a  whistling  and  a  singing  right  ober 


my  head,  and  hear  de  big  cannon  no 'boom' 
and  a  groat  big  piece  of  iron  go  '  ker-pluuk' 
right  in  amongst  us.  an'  seed  de  men  a  throwing 
up  deir  nan's  and  dropping  on  de  Kroun'  1  guess 
1  was  scared.  But  when  I  looked  troo  de  clouds 
ob  smoke  an'  see  dat  grand  ole  Hag  a  waving 
right  in  front  ob  me.  de  glorious  ole  Stars 
and  Stripes.  1  just  remembered  dat 
I  was  a  free  man  now  (he 
had  previously  told  me  that  he  had  been  a  slave 
before  the  war),  and  dat  I  had  a  country  to 
fight  for,  and  so  I  made  up  my  mind  dat  I'd  fol- 
low dat  flag  whereber  it  went,  and  before  I 
knowed  it  1  was  right  in  amongst  de  rebels,  an' 
I  wasn't  scared  a  bit.  but  I  feit  just  as  though  I 
could  lick  de  whole  rebel  army.  Dere  was  a 
great  big  rebel  right  in  front  of  me,  an'  I  Dinted 
my  musket  at  him;  he  did  not  know  that  u 
wasn't  loaded,  and  tole  him  to  s'rremler.  Dat 
rebel  he  feel  awful  i>ad  cause  he  had  to  gibe 
in  to  a  '  niggar.' but  dere  is  something  kinder 
convincing  about  a  musket  barrel  pinted  at 
your  head,  whedder  dere  is  a  white  man  behind 
it  or  a  black  man,  an'  so  he  say  he  gibe  in,  and 
I  tote  him  to  the  rear,  an*  dat  end  my  first 
battle." 

As  I  stated  before,  the  old  man  dad  been  with 
Sherman  in  his  march  to  the  sea,  and  1  guess 
from  some  of  the  tales  he  told  me  that 
he  was  the  Grand  Marshal  of  the  "Bum- 
mers." He  said:  "One  day  I  was  coming  back 
to  de  regiment  just  after  a  raid  on  de  nearest 
plantation.  I  had  about  t'ree  chickens  in  my 
han'.  two  hams  strung  aroun'  my  neck,  a  big 
jug  ob  Masses  under  my  arm,  an'  I  was  a  eatin"  a 
nice  piece  ob  hoe  cake  when  who  should  I  run 
attainst  but  'Uncle  Billy.'  He  stop  he  horse  an' 
he  look  at  me.  an'  den  he  laff  like  as  though  he 
would  sulit  Den  he  say.  'Well,  my  man,  I 
guess  you  won't  go  to  bed  hungry."  Den  he  laff 
again  an'  ride  away.  1  tell  you  he  was  de 
liestest  General  in  de  war,  an'  he  was  de  finest 
man  I  eber  seed.  Dar  was  a  powerful  good  maa 
left  dis  earth  when  'Ol»  Uncle  Billy '  went  to 
bis  long  rest."  said  the  old  man  reflectively,  as 
he  raised  his  old  battered  straw  hat  from  his 
head,  arid  brushed  the  moisture  from  his  eyes 
with  an  old  red  bandana  handkerchief. 

I  spent  many  a  day  after  that  listening  to  the 
old  man's  stories,  and  although  once  in  a  while 
ha  was  apt  to  draw  the  long  bow  a  little,  like 
his  tale  of  canturing  "  Seben  rebels  when  dey 
was  all  powerful  drunk  on  peach  brandy  "  and 
taking  the  whole  lot  into  camo,  or  the  time 
when  he  "Seed  a  cannon  ball  coming  close 
along  the  groun'.  an'  I  junrio  right  up  in  de  air 
an'  it  go  right  under  me;"  still,  he  was  very 
interesting,  and  seemed  to  remember  every- 
thing that  had  happened  to  him. 

He  was  also  on  the  Red  River  expedition,  at 
least  so  he  said,  and  some  other  time,  if  I  can 
remember  it.  1  will  tell  you  some  more  about 
him.  ARTHUR  F.  ADAMS. 

Boston,  Mass.,  Jan. 


200 


STORIES    OF    OUR   SOLDIERS. 


HOW  THE  SECOND    ARMY  CORPS    WAS    CALLED. 


Capt  Murray  of  the  Fifth  New  Hampshire 
Regiment,  an  old  soldier  and  a  veteran  of  the 
Mexican  War,  came  into  the  possession  of  an 
•Id  cavalry  bor.se,  who  had  beeu  condemned 
and  turned  loose  to  hunt  his  own  living.  He 
was  used  on  the  march  to  carry  the  innumera- 
ble small  things  belonging  to  a  company  In 
active  service.  The  old  animal  was  stone  ulind, 
but  vt-ry  intelligent;  he  knew  the  bugle  calls 
and  woul  go  through  the  cavalry  drill  when 
he  heard  them  soun  led.  He  would  KO  through 
the  maneuvres  anywhere  he  chance  I  to  be;  he 
msc'i  to  charge  into  a  group  of  men  or  a  tent  or 
anywhere,  as  he  could  not  see  a  parti 
Cle.  The  old  horse  was  christened  Beaure 
gard  by  the  men,  and  was  maie  a  pet 
of  by  '-he  company  Everyone  was  expected  to 
«r'  Aim  something  goou  to  eat — a  biscuit  or  a 
Tew  potatoes  and  such  like— and  Beauregard 
could  munch  "  hardtack  "  like  a  veteran.  The 
•or  ps  was  encamped  on  boliver  Heights,  and 
WHS  expecting  an  attack  from  Mosby,  the  guer- 
rilla, who  was  reported  as  being  near  by.  and 
strong  uicket  lines  were  mainiamed  i.oih  day 
and  night.  The  Seventh  New  York,  a  German 
•acunent,  was  in  camp  next  to  the  Fifth.  Som  e 


of  the  boys  ot  the  latter  re . ..-•.- ...  some  of  them, 
from  Lancaster,  ttioufh'.  they  would  have  a> 
little  sport  wuh  the  Dutchman.  So  they  too  c  a 
cavalry  uniform  and  sewed  It  together,  stuffed 
it,  tied  on  a  pair  of  boots.  made  a  head  and  fas- 
tened on  a  cap;  then  thev  whittled  out  a  wooden 
sword,  and  then  hunted  up  old  Beaure -rar  ;  and 
mounted  the  stuff ed  man  on  his  back,  fixed 
him  UP  with  the  sword  hand  and  reins  tied 
around  him.  Then  they  took  him  over 
near  the  New  York  regiment,  where  they  gave 
him  a  prod  behind  with  a  bayonet,  and  away  lie 
went  down  one  of  the  company  streets,  over 
everything  he  met.  Tents  were  overturns  1. 
men  knocked  down  amid  cries  of  "Mine  Gotti 
Moshbyl  Moshbyl!  MoshbylM"  The  long  roll 
was  beat  an  i  men  rusued  to  arms,  and  in  a  few 
minutes  the  wuole  Second  Corps  were  in  readi- 
ness to  resist  an  attack.  Old  Beauregar  1  had 
done  the  job  intended  thorougnlv.  He  was. 
found  <iead  a  few  days  later.  For  a  long  time 
the  superstitious  Knickerbockers  believed  it  to 
be  the  ghost  of  a  dead  cavalryman  making  «. 
charge.  H.  F.  WHITCOMB, 

Lancaster,  N.  H. 


A    CHRISTMAS     IN    SOUTH    CAROLINA 


Port  Roral  bad  fallen,  and,  for  the  first  time 
•luce  the  capture  of  Sumter.  the  sacred  soil  of 
South  Carolina  was  occupied  by  Union  troops, 
and  the  war  nrougbt  home  to  the  tire-eaters  of 
Che  Palmetto  State,  who.  in  their  pride,  deemed 
themselves  safe  from  invasion.  Dupont's  guns 
bad  baldly  ceased  from  firing  before  Hilton 
Head.  Si  Helena,  O.ty  Point  and  Beaufort  were 
garrisoned  by  the  exultant  boys  in  blue,  who 
Were  impatient  to  be  lea  on  to  Charleston,  a 
point,  however,  thev  were  not  to  re  ch  until 
•any  long,  weary  months  bad  passed  away 
•nd  thousands  bad  responded  to  their 
last  roll  call  To  the  boys  from 
thu  North  whoso  eyes  had  been 
accustomed  to  the  granite  hills  of  New  Hamp- 
shire, the  pine  plains  of  Maine,  and  the  busy 
shops  and  mills  of  Massachusetts,  Rhode  Island 
and  Connecticut,  the  change  irom  the 
crowded  decks  of  the  vessels,  where  they  had 
been  confined  for  three  weeks,  to  the  dry. 
sunny  shores  of  Hilton  Head  Island  was  de- 
larhtful  wbiln  the  semi-tropical  shrubbery  the 


palmetto  trees,  still  green  in  November,  and  th» 
wide  cotton  fields,  white  as  snow  from  the 
bursting  bulbs,  made  it  seem  »t  first  like  a 
scene  of  enchantment,  to  which  was  added  tha 
inspiring  scene  in  the  bay,  crowded  with  ves- 
sels, from  w nose  sides  proceeded  small  squadrons 
of  boats,  loaded  to  the  gunwales  wita  com  mis 
•ary  stores,  ammunition  and  camp  equipage 


At  usual,  the  Irish  soldier  was    nere  m  the 
ranks    of    the    Twenty-eighth     Massachusetts 
which  first  had  its  mettle  tested  at  the  battl» 
of  Secessionville  in  June,  1882.  and  many  inor* 
of    the    same    nationality    responded    to    their 
names  in  the   tiles  of  the  New  England  regi- 
ments, especially  in  those  from  Rhode  Island 
Connecticut  and  New  Hampshire 

Company  C  in  the  Third  New  iiamoshirt 
Volunteers,  commanded  by  the  genial  C  pt  .i» 
M.  T.  Donohqe,  later  on  Colonel  of  the  lenth 
New  Hampshire,  and  Company  G  of  the  Fo'-?ti» 
New  Hampshire  commanded  by  TJMPtai*' 


CHKISTMAS    IN    SOUTH    CAROLINA. 


20& 


Michael  O'Flynn,  were  nearly  aii  natives  oi 
irelaud,  and  what  couid  be  more  natural  than 
to  bare  a  little  reunion  and  celebration  on  their 
own  account  when  the  anniversary  so  dear  to 
them  in  the  old  country  (Christmas  Day)  came 
around.  The  Yankee  Christinas  (Thanksgiving 
Day)  had  been  duly  observed  the  mouth  uefore. 
the  two  New  Hampshire  regiments  iratorniz.ng 
in  the  camp  of  ihe  Third,  where  a  glorious  good 
time  was  had.  materially  enhanced  by  the  tine 
music  of  tiie  two  bands,  led  respectively  by 
Oust.  In -calls  and  Waiter  Dignam,  and  the 
•po.iKing  of  gallant  old  Tom  Wbipple  Colonel 
•t  the  Fourth. 

Ihe  Fifty-tilth  Pennsylvania  was  encamped 
at  beabrook,  on  Skull  Creek,  about  three  miles 
from  headquarters,  and  to  this  regiment  was 
attacneu  a  Catholic  Chaplain  The  iwo  com 
panics  obtained  leave  of  absence  tor  the  day. 
and  like  true  Irishmen  01  the  old  faith,  under 
the  leadership  01  their  Captains,  an<i  headed  by 
the  company  musicians,  look  up  the  line  of 
march  tor  ttie  quarters  of  the  Futy-nfth  Penn 
•ylvania.  How  .ightly  they  steppeu  off  uiuier 
the  exuiiarating  influence  01  tne  rollicking 
ttrai  isot  "Garryowen."and  how  the  boys  of  tne 
Forty -seventh  New  YorK.  poor  Atiies  O'Keilly's 
POL.-,,  the  tali  lumbermen  in  the  Kighth  Maine 
and  the  jolly  Germans  of  tue  Forty-sixth  New 
YorK.  all  of  tne  same  brigade,  cheered  them  as 
they  marched  past,  aud  how  surprised  ana  wist- 
ful tut*  Gaels  o>  the  Seventy-ninth  Highlanders 
looke  i  as  they  trod  gayly  on  like  school  uoys  on 
a  day's  ou.mg  in  the  woods. 

Thirty-one  year-,  have  passed  since  that  beau- 
rilui  December  morning,  but  its  memories  will 
live  lorever  The  iou*r  tramp  tnrougb  the 
woods  under  the  shaae  of  live  oaks  festooned 
wiib  grav  streamers  of  moss  was  not  in  the  least 
wearisome,  and  the  hearts  of  many,  light  as 
they  seemed,  must  uave  carried  tnem  oaoK  to 
the  banks  of  the  Lee.  the  Snaunon  and  the 
Boyne.  when,  as  children,  they  walked  beside 
their  father  or  motuer  to  mass  on  a  Christmas 
moruiiirf  On,  may  God  bless  the  boys  who 
nov«r  iorgot  tue  old  home,  and  who  have  re- 
mained true  to  the  teaching  received  at  their 
motners'  knee,  who  have  kept  the  faith  despite 
the  scoffs  and  sueers  of  those  uefore  whom  they 
kave  bad  the  courage  to  practice  it.  who  have 
•ever  been  ashamed  of  their  name  or  origin, 
but  stood  up  like  men  in  Defence  of  both,  ana 
whose  patriotism  u  volunteering  and  bravery 
ID  action  proved  them  all  the  better  Ameri- 


And  a  truer  representative  of  this  class  was 
•.oi  in  tbe  service  than  the  American  born  son 
•f  honest  Owen  Donohoe  ol  Lowell,  who  so 
«ayiy  marched  at  the  head  of  his  company, 
handsome  aud  genial,  with  a  pleasant  word  tor 
each  one  under  hU  command,  officer  and  pri- 
vate, aud  beloved  by  all,  from  little  Edoie 
Quinn,  his  orderly,  who  fell  by  his  side  at  Seces- 
sion villa  to  the  tcrim  commander  -jf  the  depart- 
ment. General  Sherman. 

Beside  him,  free  and  easy,  his  First 
Lieutenant,  "Bob  "  Allen,  Protestant  as  he  was, 
kept  in  hue  with  his  men,  for  he.  too,  had  some 


lender  recollections  ol  the  old  land ;  and  keep- 
ing step  with  him  was  sedate,  resolute  Walter 
Cody,  Second  Lieutenant,  who  six  mot. ths  later, 
on  James  Island,  was  crippled  ior  life. 

'1  he  thoughts  of  all  were  on  the  present;  none 
dreamed  what  was  in  store  for  them:  the  stern 
realities  of  war  had  not  yet  set  in,  ana  no  vision 
of  Morris  Island  and  the  long  siege  of  Charles- 
ton disturbed  their  happy  thoughts.  The  well- 
known  airs  their  mothers  danced  after,  or  their 
fathers  sang.  "St.  Patrick's  Day."  "The  Sprig 
of  Shilallagh."  '  Thr  Girl  1  Left  Behind  Me." 
"Th^  Wind  That  Shook  the  Barley."  'The 
Connaught  Man's  Rambles."  "Tbe  Bold  Soger 
Boy,'1  etc..  were  played  in  the  most  lively  man- 
ner by  Tom  McHenrv.  the  fifer,  accompanied  on 
the  drum  by  uapper  little  Mike  Galvin. 

And  how  they  chaffed  each  other,  aud  laughed 
and  sang,  either  keeping  time  to  the  music  or 
changing  to  rout  step,  while  the  pioer  was  rest- 
ing the  chanter,  and  how  tickled  the  contra- 
bands were,  who  came  out  of  the  woods  attract- 
ed by  the  music 

"How.  wah.  golly.  Massa.  dat's  nice."  Poor 
souls,  to  them,  pouring  in  every  day  from. 
"Biufton  on  the  main,  sab."  the  Yankees  were 
gloririe  I  beings,  almost  angels,  and  their  daily 
prayer  was.  "God  bress  Massa  Linkuinand  the 
Yankee  sogers."  And  how  they  sang,  "Glorious 
Mawnin.  Glorious  Mawnin.  Ji-sus  rose  from 
the  dead  Sunday  Mawnin."  Such  voices  and. 
such  harmony,  rich  and  melodious,  and  over 
all  a  clear,  .-unny  sky.  the  air  as  warm  and 
balmy  as  a  June  atmo  phere  in  New  England, 
the  sombre  live  oaks  drawn  up  on  each  side. 
ho;irv  and  aged  looking,  with  their  gray  mossy 
beards,  pro  ending  arras  seemingly,  as  the 
exiles  of  Erin  marched  by  in  review. 

Now  a  grove  of  pines  is  struck,  an  I  the  air  is 
redolent  with  tbe  delicious  aroma,  only  toun  d  in 
such  forests,  while  ihe  ground  is  thickly  car- 
peted with  the  cast-off  garments  of  a  dead  year: 
occasionally  a  palmetto  tree  steps  out  to  view 
the  parade,  but  not  often ;  the  presence  of  in- 
vaders is  a  disagreeable  reminder  of  its  bygone 
glory,  and  it  sen  Is  the  grave  old  live  oak  and 
the  sighing  pine  to  sing  a  dirge  over  its  dying 
hopea  But  the  m-trch  is  over,  Seabrook  is 
reached,  and  Colonel  White  of  tbe  Fifty-fifth 
extends  a  hear'v  welcome  to  his  guests 

AD  aitar  had  been  erected  in  the  open  air,  and 
in  a  few  minutes  all  are  on  their  knees,  and  the 
voice  of  the  priest  is  heard,  as  he  offers  up  the 
holy  sacrifice  of  the  mass.  What  a  scene  for  an 
artistl  The  altar  under  the  shade  of  the  trees, 
the  uplifted  arms  of  the  celebrant,  the  bowed 
beads  and  bended  knees  of  the  soldiers,  the  dip- 
ping of  the  colors,  the  roll  oi  the  drum  and  the 
"present  arms"  of  the  guard  at  the  elevation, 
and.  mjre  than  all  this,  the  wondering,  rever- 
ential dark  laces  which,  like  a  blacK  frinee.  en- 
circled the  kneeling  battalion.  Ah!  God  pity 
the  poor  soulsl  Did  they  realize  that  this  was  a 
reminder  of  the  awful  sacrifice  on  Calvary's 
Mount  ages  ago?  But  now  the  service  is  over. 
mass  is  finished,  and  as  tbe  men  stand  in  tneir 
places,  the  priest  slowly  turns  and  faces  them. 

He  folds  his  arms  and   for  a  moment  is  still. 


204 


STORIES    OF    OUR    SOLD1KK; 


looking  over  the  upturned  respectful  counte- 
nances of  his  congregation,  and  casting;  a  sur- 
prised glance  at  the  crowd  of  interested  dark 
faces  which  had  collected,  unknown  to  him, 
during  the  service.  It  is  five  months  since  thev 
had  left  their  homes,  and  how  glad  tbe  men  are 
to  hear  attain  the  voice  of  their  own  "  So^garth 
Aroon,"  atul  that  voice  having  just  the  faintest 
flavor  of  their  own  delicious  brogue;  and  how 
feelingly  he  addressed  them,  and  what  good  ad 
vice  he  gave  them,  to  be  true  10  their  God  and 
their  country,  and  their  duty  would  be  well 
performed;  and  that  even  the  head  of  the 
ohurcli,  always  on  the  alert  for  the  welfare  of 
his  flock,  had  issued  a  circular  letter,  absolving 
them  lr<>ni  all  fasts  wmie  serving  in  the  armies 
Of  their  country,  and  asking  them  tokneei.he 
gave  them  his  benediction,  and  the  services 
were  finished. 

A.  couple  of  hours'  fraternization  between  the 


men  of  the  different  reeriments  closed  with  a 
drum  call.  and.  a  little  later,  the  battalion  was 
on  its  way  back  to  camp  after  a  day  well  spent, 
nearly  a  third  of  a  century  ago;  but  the  recol- 
lections 01  that  Christmas  are  as  clear  as  il  on 
yesterday,  though  few  01  the  actors  survive. 

Many  of  them  found  unknown  graves  on 
James  Island,  on  Morris  Island,  at  Wagner,  on 
Folly  Island,  *t  Drewry's  Bluff,  at  Cold  Harbor, 
at  Deep  Bottom,  or  have  died  since  their  return 
of  wounds  or  disease.  Their  gallant  com- 
mander, genial  Michael  T.  Donohoe.  went  in  at 
the  beginning  ana  stayed  to  the  end.  Because 
he  was  always  true  to  his  Goa,  to  his  country 
ana  to  his  friends,  may  he  and  his  have  peace  to 
the  end  of  their  days;  and  no  matter  where  the 
mortal  remains  rest  of  the  hoys  01  Companies  C 
an  i  G  of  the  two  regiments,  the  recording  angel 
will  have  them  creoited  for  the  day's  service  in 
December.  1861.  JOHN  C. 


CAPTURED  A  REBEL   GENERAL  BY  MISTAKE. 


Reading  the  intensely  interesting  war  stories 
in  the  Journal  has  called  to  my  mind  an  inci- 
dent 1  have  never  seen  published. 

It  was  some  time  in  the  fall  of  1865.  I  was  a 
mere  boy.  a  Sergeant  in  Company  E.  Thirty- 
aecqnd  Maine  Regiment,  Second  Brigade,  Second 
Division,  Ninth  Army  Coros,  in  front  of  Peters- 
burg. There  had  been  an  understanding  be- 
tween the  picket  lines  of  the  contending  armies 
for  some  time — for  no  tiring— ana  all  daylong 
the  Blue  and  the  Gray  were  plainly  visible  to 
each  other  and  in  close  proximity.  Jokes  were 
frequently  passed  back  and  lortii,  and  it  was 
not  uncommon  for  two  or  three  of  each  side  to 
meet  mi  i way  between  the  lines  and  swap  for 
johnny  hoe  cuko.  A  Massachusetts  Captain 
who  had  thus  gone  between  the  lines 
Was  one  day  "gobbled  up"— taken  pris- 
oner —  when  orders  were  issued  to 
stop  this  proceeding.  One  cold,  drizzly  Sun- 
day not  long  after  I  was  on  the  picket  line,  and 
a  New  Hampshire  Captain  was  Officer  of  the 
Guard.  In  the  afternoon  we  saw  down  at  the 
left  a  rebel  move  a  paper;  not  receiving  an 
answer  he  moved  up  in  front  of  our  picket  post 
and  moved  his  paper.  Our  Captain  of  the 


guard  moved  a  pacer  in  return,  whereupon  the 
rebel  commenced  to  advance  toward  our  post. 
Our  Captain  said  he  would  bring  him  in  or  die 
in  the  attempt,  and  started  to  meet  him.  They 
m -t  about  midway,  .shook  hands  and  our  Cap- 
tain did  not  let  go  his  grasp,  drew  his  revolver 
ana  brought  him  into  our  lines.  The  Johnny 
was  very  mad  and  swore  roun  ily.  calling  it  a 
d — d  Yankee  trick.  He  had  on  a  tine  steel  gray 
uniform  and  silver  spurs  and  said  he  was 
an  orderly  to  Gen.  Lee. 

He  was  taken  to  General  Griffin's  headquar- 
ters (the  General  was  brigade  commander)  and 
from  thence  to  General  Potter's  headquarters. 
General  Potter  was  our  division  commander. 
There  my  duty  ceased.  We  learned  soon  after- 
ward that  our  prisoner  was  no  less  a  personage 
than  Major  General  Ko,'er  A.  Pryor.  now  a 
famous  lawyer  in  New  York  city  and  one  of  the 
counsel  for  Mr.  Til  ton  In  his  famous  suit  against 
Henry  Ward  Beecher.  If  tuis  sketch  is  read  by 
any  one  who  was  on  the  picket  line  that  day 
and  saw  this  occurrence  I  would  like  to  have 
them  write  me.  LEEOY  T.  CARL  ETON, 

Winthrop,  Me. 

Company  E.  Thirty-second  Maine. 


MARCHING    UNDER  DIFFICULTIES. 


Going  to  the  scene  of  war  as  a  volunteer  re- 
cruit in  September.  1862,  and  joining  a  New 
Hamnsbire  regiment  just  after  the  battle  of 
Amietam,  my  first  hard  march  was  over  the 
mountains  near  the  Potomac  River  in  western 
Maryland.  It  was  a  hot  day,  ami  my  load  was 
heavy  indeed.  How  heavy  that  knapsack  after  a 
few  miles  of  marcningl  Tbe  haversack,  the 
canteen,  the  cartridge  pox.  the  mu-ket — how 
they  weigned  me  down  as  I  climued  up,  and  up, 
and  up  the  mountain  side. 

How  lon^r  could  I  keen  up  the  march  with 
such  ;i  load?  At  every  step  the  bur  len  grows 
heavier.  The  bright  sun  »nd  the  charming 
•cenery  would  be  aelightful  if  one  could  sit  idly 
and  enjoy  them.  Bui  1  can  only  wonder  how  I 
am  to  keep  in  the  column  and  not  fall  by  the 
wayl  \Vhy  not  rest,  and  go  on  by-and-by. 


That  will  not  do,  as  long  as  1  can  put  one  foot  in 
advance  of  the  other.  I  must  wait  till  the 
bugle  sounds  a  rest. 

But  there  is  a  man  resting  by  the  wayside; 
why  may  not  I?  He  will  not  rest  there  long,  for 
he  has  no  permit.  An  officer  rides  back  on  a 
horse  and  talks  to  him.  1  am  near  enough  to 
hear  some  of  the  conversation.  "  Move  on,* 
says  tne  officer,  in  a  stern  voice,  "or  I  will  order 
you  shot"  Officers  do  not  stop  to  argue  much  at 
such  a  time. 

Men  do.  and  often  must,  fall  out  on  a  march, 
but  it  is  not  allowable  for  a  sol  lier  to  stop  and 
rest  because  he  is  tired.  If  it  were,  all  would 
be  halting  too  frequently.  The  man  who  was 
spoken  to  was  evidently  one  who  wa^  accus- 
tomed to  "fall  oak"  And  then  A  speech  liKe 


PATHETIC    WAR    MEMORIKS. 


205 


that  is  sometimes  a  lesson  to  others  who  may  be 
halt'  inclined  to  give  up  the  march. 

When  the  bugle  blows  for  rest  what  a  de- 
light tul  sound  is  that  to  my  ear.  Bow  quickly 
I  drop  by  the  roadside  and  rest  my  weary  limbs. 
How  I  wish  those  few  minutes  could  be  length- 
ened to  an  hour.  Did  I  ever  know  so  fully  what 
rest  meant  before  ?  Why  cannot  we  stay 
longer  and  be  in  better  con  litiou  to  continue 
our  journey  ?  It  is  not  for  us  to  ask  such  ques- 
tions, ana  the  bugle  sounds  for  "lor  ward  I" 
an  I  we  are  again  on  our  way. 

My  canteen  is  erupts,  and  thirst  is  now  added 
to  01  her  discomforts.  1  must  keep  my  place  in 
the  moving  column  till  another  halt,  and  even 
longer,  unless  water  is  near  at  hand.  There  is 
little  lime  to  atten.l  to  personal  wants.  To  do 
my  duty  1  must  keep  moving,  march  away, 
plod  along,  climb  the  mountain,  jump  ditches, 
wade  through  streams,  smile  at  the  burning 
•an. 

At  last  the  mountain  is  climbed,  the  column 
descends  on  the  other  side,  a  task  scarcely  less 


fatiguing  than  the  climbing;  we  march  through 
woods  and  lowlands,  over  rough  ground  and 
along  stony  tracks  till,  as  the  sun  nears  its  set- 
ting, we  drag  our  weary  feet  toward  a  field 
where  we  are  to  bivouac  for  the  night  N» 
friends  have  a  hot  supper  awaiting  us;  no  com- 
fortable beds  are  placed  at  our  disposal;  we 
must  prepare  our  own  food,  and  be  thankful  for 
the  hard  ground  on  which  to  repose. 

But,  even  under  such  conditions,  it  seems 
that  I  am  not  to  be  allowed  a  night's  rest.  It  is 
my  turn  to  go  on  guard.  The  camp  must  be 
protected,  and  I  must  be  one  to  assist  in  that 
dutv.  Was  there  ever  a  longer  night?  Two 
hours  on  and  (our  off.  How  long  seemed  each 
two.  how  short  the  four  I  How  drowsy  1  am  a* 
I  walk  my  lonely  beatl  How  often  I  have  to 
pinch  myself  to  keep  from  sleeping,  as  to  and 
fro  1  tramp  witli  my  musket  on  my  shoulder. 
At  last  the  morning  dawns,  and  I  r«joice  a* 
never  before  to  see  the  rising  sun. 

P.    P.  WUITEHOITBB 

South  Hampton,  N.  H. 


PATHETIC    WAR    MEMORIES. 


I  have  been  reading  the  war-stories  in  the  Bos- 
ton Journal,  written  by  Carleton  and  others, 
and  liave  been  very  much  interested  in  them, 
and  how  that  the  regiments  stood  up  so  man- 
fully before  the  shot  and  shell  of  the  enemy.  I 
thought  that  I  would  write  a  few  lines  in  re- 
gard to  the  First  Massachusetts  Heavy  Artil- 
lery. We  left  the  forts  around  Washington  the 
same  time  that  the  First  Maine  and  the 
First  New  York  Heavy  Artillery  Regiments  did, 
and  we  mar  cued  down  to  Alexandria  and  took 
the  boat  lor  Belle  Plain,  where  we  disembarked 
and  marched  from  there  up  to  General  Grant's 
headquarters.  On  the  18tn  of  May  we  marched 
up  the  road  about  two  miles,  where  we  went  in 
the  woods  and  camped  for  the  night,  and  it  was 
one  of  the  most  beautiful  nights  that  I  ever  saw. 
It  was  clear  and  the  moon  was  full,  and  not 
even  a  leaf  seemed  to  move,  when  some  of  the 
boys  on  our  left  commence  1  to  sing,  and  they 
sang  a  few  pieces  and  one  of  the  nieces  ended 
with  "  Uncle  Abe,  iiully  for  you."  The  boys  in 
Company  F  commenced  to  sing  some  of  tue  war 
songs.  And  it  seemed  as  though  I  never  heard 
music  sound  so  sweet  in  my  life  as  it  did  there 
that  night.  I  read  the  piece  about  the  Captain 
who,  after  being  relieved  from  picket,  went  up 
to  a  house  and  found  some  eggs  and  boilel 
them,  They  tasted  so  good  that  after  he  came 
home  he  tried  them  in  the  same  way.  but  they 
did  not  taste  the  same.  And  it  has  been  the 
same  way  with  me  in  reeard  to  the  singing. 
For  1  have  heard  some  of  the  same 
pieces  since  1  came  home,  which  have 
been  sung  well.  but  it  did  not 
have  the  s.irne  charm  to  me  that  it  did  down  in 
those  woods  near  the  Fredericks  buriar  road,  and 
it  was  the  last  song  that  some  of  them  ever 
sang.  For  one  of  tnem  was  killed  before  the 
next  night,  shot  through  the  head 
(Corporal  Washburn).  We  left  the  woods 
in  the  afternoon  and  marched  about  two 
miles  up  the  road  and  formed  in  line 
of  battle,  when  Companies  F  and  JD  were 


ordered  out  as  skirmishers,  and  while  we  were_ 
going  1  looked  back  and  saw  the  rest  of 
the  regiment  going  double-quick  off  toward 
the  right,  and  in  a  few  moments  they 
were  fighting  hard.  Companies  F  and 
D  stood  waiting  at  the  edge  of  the  woods  for 
orders,  as  there  seemed  to  be  some  mistake  in 
sending  us  out  there.  But  in  a  lew  momenta 
we  had  orders  to  forward  double  quick,  and  we 
came  in  line  of  battle  on  the  left  and  ue^an  to 
fire,  and  soon  were  engaged  with  the  rest,  and 
we  kept  up  the  firing  until  about  10  o'clock, 
when  it  cease  i.  with  only  now  and  then  a 
volley.  We  lay  down  until  morning,  when  we 
found  that  K well's  corps  had  gone,  and  w« 
had  saved  the  supply  train  that  they 
were  after.  Our  regiment  lost  in  that 
engagement  50  killed,  312  wounded  and  28 
missing;  total,  390.  That  was  thinning  out 
some,  I  thought,  for  one  tight.  I  went  out  on 
the  battlefield  the  next  morning,  where  they 
were  gathering  the  dead,  and  what  a  sight  to 
see  men  who  but  a  few  hours  before  were  ia 
healtn  and  strength  now  stiff  in  death  «y  the 
enemy's  bullets,  to  say  nothing  of  the  sufferings 
of  those  who  were  wounded  1  And  let  us  just 
stop  and  thiuK  of  the  homes  that  it  made  va- 
cant, and  the  hearts  that  it  seemed  to  crush,  and 
sometimes  1  have  thought  if  some  of  the  people 
of  the  North  coul  i  have  looked  upon  such 
scenes  as  those  thev  would  not  slur  out  against 
a  pension.  For  1  believe  that  everyone  who 
went  through  that  awful  ordeal  from  1861  to 
to  1865  should  be  rewarded.  For  no  pen  can 
write,  no  picture  can  be  painted  that  can  ex- 
press anything  those  boys  went  through  on  the 
march,  tne  picket,  the  bloody  tielu  ot  battle  or 
those  prison  pens  in  the  sioutn.  And  as  we 
look  at  the  old  comrades  to-day  we  see  how 
some  are  suffering  from  wounds  that  have 
never  healed  ana  others  their  bodies  shattered 
by  disease  from  the  effect  of  that  terrible  strife 

K.  F.  HODGE,  Co  F,  First  Mass.  H.  A. 
Post  14.  Hopkinton.  Mass. 


IN  THE  SOUTHWEST. 


OoL  King  Is  »  natlre  of  Alstead,  K.  H.,  and  at  the 
breaking  out  of  the  war  of  the  Rebellion  he  was  In  tha 
employ  of  the  Nashua  Manufacturing  Company  of  that 
place.  He  was  one  of  the  first  to  respond  to  President 
Lincoln's  call  to  arms  In  April,  1861,  enlisting  as  a  pri- 
rate  in  the  First  New  Hampshire  Volunteers,  serving  his 
enlistment  and  returning  home  as  a  Corporal.  He  then 
•Misted  in  raising  a  company  for  the  Eighth 
Xew  Hampshire  Regiment  and  was  commissioned 
M  Second  Lieutenant.  He  accompanied  the  regi- 
ment to  Ship  Island  with  Butler's  expedition,  and  for 
Ibis  admirable  efficiency  as  an  officer  he  was  promoted  to 
First  Lieutenant  in  July,  1362,  and  to  Captain  in  Novem- 
ber, 1363.  He  served  for  a  year  with  abilit  r  and  gallantry 
•n  the  staffs  of  Generals  Paine  and  McMilui  n  as  Adjutant 
General  and  Assistant  Inspector  General.  On  the  ad- 
vance of  the  Bed  River  expedition  he  was  second  in  com- 
mand under  Major  Connelly,  who  commanded  the  right 
wing.  After  brave  service  and  great  suffering  as  a  prisoner 
he  was  given  the  command  of  the  Eighth  Regiment,  which 
position  he  filled  until  November,  1305,  when  he  was  mot- 
tared  out  after  four  and  one-half  years'  service.  He  was 
•ommisaioned  as  Lieutenant  Colonel  by  Governor  Smyth, 
and  from  that  official,  as  well  as  from  Adjutant  General 
Head,  he  received  the  nigh  encomium  of  having  the  best 
disciplined  regiment  they  had  reviewed.  Only  one,  the 
Second  New  Hampshire,  continued  In  service  when  the 
lighth  was  mastered  oak  Of  the  original  87  officers, 
Col.  King  was  the  only  one  left  at  the  mastering  oat,  a 
fact  which  occurred  In  no  other  New  Hampshire  regiment. 
Tor  nearly  26  years  Col.  King  has  been  continuous  in 
Office  as  Register  of  Deeds  In  Hfllsborough  county,  New 
Hampshire,  and  Is  now  discharging  the  dalles  of  that  po- 
sition with  rare  fidelity  and  success.  His  many  elections 
are  proof  alike  of  valued  services  and  well-earned  popu- 
larity. Col.  King  has  erected  a  beautiful  home  for  him- 
self and  family  on  one  of  the  most  attractive  avenues  In 
Nashua,  and  to  that  home,  with  its  elegant  furnishings 
and  many  mementoes  of  the  war,  his  army  comrades,  as 
well  as  all  other  friends,  are  always  welcome.  As  Is 
well  known,  from  his  return  from  the  service  until  tha 
present  time  CoU  King  has  been  a  great  sufferer  from 
wounds  received  In  the  service,  and  which  suffering  he 
expects  to  carry  to  the  grave. 
Like  Capt  Magnitzky  of  the  Twentieth  Mas- 


sachusetts, I  was  the  only  one  of  the  ori^iuAt 
officers  of  the  Eighth  New  Hampshire  who  was 
"in  at  the  death."  I  entered  as  Seconi  Lien- 
tenant  and  came  home  in  comman  1  of  th  >  rem- 
nant ot  the  regiment  in  November,  1865,  tha 
number  being  less  than  200  men,  oat  of  a  total 
of  about  1900  who  had  been  borne  UDOII  oar 
rolls.  This  small  number  shows  the  decimat- 
ing effects  of  the  climate  of  Louisiana,  with  its 
vast  areas  of  swamp  and  canebrake.  muck  of  it 
only  fit  for  its  present  denizens,  alligators  and 
moccasins. 

Four  years  which  the  regiment  spent  tkare 
made  havoc  with  our  members  hardly  equaled 
by  any  organization  in  the  service.  The  regi- 
ment was  organized  in  the  autumn  of  1881 
and  camped  in  the  open  flel  1  at  Manchester 
until  January,  1862,  when  it  was  moved  to  Fort 
Independence,  Boston  Harbor,  where,  after  a 
short  stay,  it  boar  led  two  sailing  ships  for  Shin 
Island,  off  the  coast  of  Mississippi,  in  the  Gait 
of  Mexico,  being  part  of  Butler's  expedition  for 
the  capture  of  New  Orleans. 

Col.  Hawkes  Fearing,  Jr.,  now  of  Hi  n?  ham. 
Mass..  commanded  the  regiment,  and  with  fix 
companies  sailed  on  the  shio  E.  Wilder  Farley. 

The  other  four  companies  took  ship  Eliza  and 
Ella  under  Lieutenant  Colonel  O.  W.  Lull,  who 
was  afterward  killed  while  leading  an  assault 
on  Port  Hudson.  I  was  in  the  latter  vessel, 
and,  owing  to  storms,  we  were  41  days  miking 
the  trip.  Wood  and  water  ran  short,  and  we 
put  into  Nassau,  in  the  Bahama  Isl  ands, 
in  distress,  and  replenished. 

The  port  was  full  of  blockade  runners,  though 
supposed  to  be  neutral,  being  under  the  English 
flag. 

We    landed    at    Ship    Island    shortly    after 


208 


STORIES    OF    OUR    SOLDIERS. 


Butler's  arrival,  an<l  spent  several  weeks  drill- 
ing: on  its  sands.  When  the  passage  of  the  torts 
was  attempted  by  Farragut,  mv  company  with 
two  others  was  sent  UD  the  "  Rigolets."  a 
passage  leading  to  Lakes  Fonchartrain  and 
Catharine  to  possess  ourselves  of  Forts  Piko 
and  Macombe,  which  the  rebels  had  abandoned. 
We  found  them  and  tneir  armament  wrecked, 
so  far  a-*  rebel  ingenuity  could  do  it,  and  spent 
several  weeks  at  thn  latter  place  putting  things 
in  order  for  defence,  and  in  cruising  around  the 
lakes  in  search  of  government  property  which 
the  "Dago"  fishermen  had  filched,  from  the 
forts.  We  also  took  possession  of  lower  Dupree, 
with  its  eight  heavy  guns  which  we  removed 
to  Macombe.  The  other  seven  companies  under 
Col.  Fearing  followed  the  fleet  to  New  Orleans 
iud  camped  at  the  Parapet,  eight  miles  above 
he  city  on  its  eastern  bauk  and  where  our 
»hree .companies  joined  them  later. 

In  October  we  formed  a  nart  of  Gen.  Weitzel's 
bngado  in  an  expedition  to  open  up  and  reclaim 
westorn  Louisiana,  ana  fought  our  first  battle  at 
Georgia  Landing,  on  the  Lafourche  Bayou.  We 
were  "spoiling  for  a  tight,"  out  1  am  frank  to 
say  that  after  the  first  one  few  men  spoiled  for 
the  second.  1  think  every  man,  when  the  first 
bullets  zip  by  his  ears,  wishes  the  thing  was 
over  and  he  was  well  oul  of  it. 

When  the  engagement  becomes  close  this 
nervousness  is  gone.  He  sees  men  drooping 
dead,  loses  his  temper,  and  thinks  and  swears 
that  he  can  whip  the  whole  rebel  army.  Tell  it 
not  in  a  Sunday  School,  but  more  profanity  is 
indulged  in  on  a  battlefield  than  on  any  otner 
•pot  in  the  world- 

The  "  Battle  of  the  Cotton."  in  which  a  part  of 
the  Eighth  were  engaged,  soon  followed,  when 
comparative  quiet  reigned  in  the  department 
until  the  next  March,  when  a  feint  was  made  in 
the  rear  of  Port  Hudson  to  enable  Farragut  to 
pass  up  the  river.  This  he  did  with  part  of  his 
Beet,  losing  the  Mississippi,  which  from  our 
position  we  saw  blow  up.  making  a  spectacle 
never  to  be  forgotten.  We  were  next  engaged 
in  the  Battle  of  Fort  Bisland,  west  of  Berwick 
Bay,  which  we  captured,  and  opened  the  way 
to  Alexandria  on  the  Red  River,  which  we  soon 
occupied,  and  then  descended  on  Port  Hudson. 
crossing  the  Mississippi  at  Bayou  Sara,  and  ap- 
proaching it  from  the  north.  1  well  remember 
a  long  chat  that  1  had  with  Col,  Kimbail  of  the 
Fifty-third  Massachusetts  as  we  rode  from  the 
crossing  to  the  line  of  investment. 

The  siege  of  Port  ttuason  will  always  be 
famous  in  our  country's  history,  and  its  capture, 
after  a  gallant  defence  ol  46  days,  wiil  always 
be  a  matter  of  pride  to  a:  1  who  took  part  in  it. 
Twice  we  assailed  it  when  "  blood  was  King 
and  damnation  reigned  supreme."  and  at  its 
downfall  the  Eighth  New  Hampshire  had  a 
larger  list  of  killed  than  any  other  command 
that  took  part.  It  was  honored  by  having  the 
right  of  the  line  on  the  army's  entry  at  the  sur- 
render. Col  Fearing  gallantly  commanded  a 
brigade  throughout  the  contact.  Lieut.  Col.  Lull 


and  other  officers  were  killed,  and  our  total  loss^ 
footed  up  67  per  cent.,  which  was  31  per  cent, 
greater  than  that  of  the  charge  of  the  "Light 
Briga  le  at  Balaklava." 

Failing  to  capture  it  by  assault,  siege  was  laid, 
and  the  weeks  spent  in  the  rifle  pits  were  weeks 
of  horror  and  toil.  Under  a  burning  Louisiana 
Bun.  with  no  shelter,  and  constant  labor  with 
musket  and  shovel,  tried  the  grit  of  m«n  as  few 
conditions  do  try  them.  The  charge  on  the  14th 
of  June  was  most  deadly.  General  Paine  of 
Wisconsin,  our  leader,  was  shot  on  the  skirmish 
line,  and  only  rescued  in  an  unconscious  con 
ditiou  twelve  hours  afterward. 

I  remember  seeing  a  man  sitting  behind  a 
stump  with  his  suspender  drawn  round  his  leg 
to  stop  the  flow  of  blood  from  his  wound.  He 
had  inserted  his  bayonet  in  the  bandage  to 
make  a  tighter  pressure.  1  spoke  to  him  and  he 
answered  that  he  guessed  he  could  hold  it  until 
we  could  capture  the  place.  The  assault  failed, 
and.  three  days  afterwar  1,  the  rebels  raised 
the  flag  of  truce  and  requested  us  to  bury  our 
dead,  as  the  stench  to  them  and  to  us  was  un- 
bearable. This  was  complied  with,  and  113  on 
our  part  were  gathered  and  placed  in  the  pit, 
three  deep,  not  one  so  far  as  I  knew,  being  iden- 
tified. It  was  a  horrible  sight,  this  charnel 
house  of  bloated  and  black  bodies.  I  think  Col. 
Goo  lin  of  the  Thirteenth  Massachusetts  was 
one  of  the  burial  party. 

My  man  behind  the  stump,  before  spoken  of. 
we  found  just  as  I  had  left  him,  dead.  The  hot 
summer  sum  and  the  buzzards  had  lett  nothing 
but  the  bones  of  his  skeleton  hand  grasping  the 
bayonet,  and  his  bare,  eyeless  skull  sat  grinning 
at  us  from  the  collar  of  his  blouse.  Capt.  Stan- 
yan  and  Lieut  Newel),  both  wounded,  wera 
taken  prisoners  in  the  ditch.  Those  of  us  who 
got  back  to  our  starting  point  don't  want  to  re- 
peat the  experiment  of  running  with  a  fire  in 
the  rear. 

1  have  often  oeen  asked  if  1  was  ever  scared 
in  battle?  Well,  I  think  so.  On  one  occasion 
a  half  pound  more  of  scare  would  have  killed 
me.  One  day  while  the  siege  was  in  progress  I 
stood  leaning  against  a  small  sapling,  about  a 
Quarter  of  a  mile  from  the  fort,  when 
a  nearly  spent  shell  plunged  into  the 
ground  about  four  feet  to  my  right,  cut 
a  hole  about  two  feet  in  depth  under 
me.  and  turned  me  on  to  my  head  in  it.  Capt 
George  S.  Eayrs  of  Company  B  stood  talking 
with  me  at  the  time,  and  stunned  and  ulinded 
as  I  was.  I  recalled  thinking  that  mv  bowels 
were  torn  out.  My  breath  was  knocked  out, 
and  it  was  during  this  interval  that  the  thought 
occurred.  Scared  I  I  should  say  so.  Poor 
Eayrs  1  we  buried  him  a  year  ago.  as  we  have 
most  of  the  comrades  of  that  day 

I  was  a  member  of  Banks's  Forlorn  Hope, 
being  an  officer  in  the  Sixth  Company.  Second 
Battalion.  We  had  failed  to  capture  the  place 
by  two  murderous  assaults,  and  General  Banks 
conceived  the  idea  that  a  thousand  picked  men. 
specially  drilled  and  prepared,  ana  sworn  to  go 
in  or  die  trying,  could  capture  the  stronghold 


IN    THE    SOUTHWEST. 


We  were  relieved  from  other  duty,  iurnished 
with  extra  rations  and  a  little  grog  and  began 
preparations.  Col.  Birge  of  the  Thirteenth 
Connecticut  was  in  command.  Swords  and 
bayouets  were  sharDened  like  razors  and 
needles,  cartridges  with  a  double  amount  of 
pow  ter,  a  miuie  ball  and  nine  buckshot  were 
made  by  the  men  and  filled  each  cartridge  box. 
The  sappers  and  miners  had  run  a  zig-zag  into 
the  ditch  at  the  point  of  a  salient. 

This  salient  was  undermined  on  each  angle 
and  a  ton  or  two  of  powder  was  to  blow  it 
heavenward,  and  we  were  to  enter  from  the  zig- 
zag into  tne  hoie  thus  made.  Tne  news  of  the 
fall  of  Vicksburg,  in  tne  nick  of  time,  and  nego- 
tiations for  surrender  put  a  stop  to  this  action 
and  saved  what  would  have  been  a  slaughter 
pen.  The  rebels  got  wind  of  our  intention  and 
had  prepared  a  reception  by  a  "Committee  of 
the  Whole."  which  would  have  been  a  warm 
one.  I  examined  the  ground  afterwards,  and 
believe  that  1  am  enabled  to  te.'l  the  Journal 
readers  tnis  story  to-day  only  because  we  were 
not  called  upon.  Gen.  Banks  promised  a  medal 
from  Congres«  to  each  participant  in  this  affair. 
bat  for  nearly  30  years  it  has  failed  to  mate- 
rialize. 

Our  next  campaign  was  in  Western  Louisiana, 
where  the  battle  of  Carrion  Crow  Bayou  was 
fought,  in  which  Lieutenant  Marian  of  Mims's 
Battery  succeeded  in  getting  away  with  two  of 
his  truns  alter  they  were  fairly  captured  by  the 
enemy, 

The  winter  of  1864  found  as  at  Franklin, 
changed  to  a  cavalry  regiment,  and  drilling 
preparatory  to  going  on  the  ill-starred  Red  River 
expedition.  The  force  was  collected  in  New 
Orleans,  when  re-enlistments  as  "Veterans" 
was  consummated,  and  a  start  made  in  March 
for  what  proved  perhaps  the  most  disastrous  ex- 
pedition of  the  whoie  war.  Fates  were  against 
as.  and  the  remarkable  hero  sm  ot  that  army 
could  not  avail  against  the  obstacles  nature  had 
placed  in  our  way,  reinforced  by  hordes  of  the 
best  troops  of  the  Confederacy.  The  cane- 
breaks,  torests,  swamus  and  bayous,  extending 
over  our  four  hundred  miles'  advance,  were 
enemies  in  themselves. 

We  were  in  the  advance,  the  cavalry  division 
being  commanded  hy  General  Lee.  and  our 
brigade  by  Colonel  N.  A.  M.  Dudley  of  the 
Third  Massachusetts  Cavalry.  We  fought  more 
or  less,  day  by  day,  captured  Alexandria  and 
Naichitoches  (Nackitosh,  in  the  vernacularj.and 
pushed  on  toward  Shreveport.  our  goal.  Major 
Tom  Connelly  commanded  our  regiment,  and  I 
was  second  in  command  by  seniority  We  nad 
a  sharp  fight  near  Pleasant  Hill  on  the 
evening  01  April  7,  and  next  morning 
advanced  toward  'Sabine  Cross  Koads," 
which  was  to  prove  a  fateful  field  for  us. 
About  10  o'clock  the  Major  had  the  right,  and  I 
the  left  wing  in  parallel  "columns  of  fours.1' 
when  we  were  peremptorily  ordered  to  charge 
the  infantry  in  our  iront  with  the  sabre,  as  it 
was  thought  by  those  in  authority  that  only  the 
rear  guard  was  in  our  way  Fatal  mistake  1  We 
found  the  infantry  en  masse  by  brigades  oehind 


a  fence  which  no  horse  in  the  division  could 
scale,  ana  the  sabre  was  useless.  The  order 
"column  left "  and  then  "  fours  right "  brought 
us  into  the  line  of  battle  so  near  that  the 
enemies'  powder  pricked  our  faces.  We 
received  their  volley  when  our  fix  was  discov 
ered  in  the  rear,  and  the  recall  sounded.  My 
horse  had  two  bullets  through  him  and  fell. 

i  took  him  by  the  reins  and  tried  to  make  him 
rise.  He  looked  at  me.  apparently  imploringly, 
out  of  his  almost  human  eyes,  and  I  uade  him  a 
f  are  we  i  L  Poor  Bony!  A  rush  was  made  for 
the  rear,  when  1  was  stopped  short  by  a  ballet 
and  fell,  and  mv  horse,  which  had  regained  hi* 
feet,  went  by  me.  I  thought  my  \&t.  which  wa* 
benumbed  to  the  knee,  was  gone.  I  emotied 
my  revolver  toward  the  enemy,  threw  away  th.i 
chamber  and  awaited  results.  Lying  on  a  battle 
field  with  shot  and  shell  from  both  sides  cut- 
tine  the  dust  around  you  isn't  a  pleasant  posi- 
tion. This  is  supplemented  by  frantic  horses 
that  have  lost  their  riders,  and  I  fully  expected 
to  be  trampled  to  death  by  their  hoofs. 

While  lying  there  I  heard  the  grand  hailincr 
sign  of  distress  from  a  brother  of  the  Masonic 
order,  dangerously  wounded,  and  which  was 
answered  by  the  enemy,  and  a  rescue  ma<l  • 
under  a  shower  of  shot. 

W  hen  hot  firing  ceased  a  long-haired  Texan 
approached  and  ordered  me  to  "  Get  UD.  or  I'll 
shoot  the  stuffing  out  of  ye. "  1  obeyed  and 
limped  with  him  to  the  rear,  where  I  was 
stripped  of  my  belongings  and  pumped  by  Gen. 
Dick  Taylor  as  to  Bans  s's  force,  to  which  1  re- 
plied with  all  the  lies  I  could  think  of.  We  were 
gathered  together  at  Mansfield,  threo  miies 
away,  our  names  taken  by  the  Provost  Marshal, 
and  started  for  jail  at  Shreveport.  Among  the 
captured  men  I  found  Chief  Bugler  Henry  J. 
Dursnn.  now  of  Rochester.  N.  Y..  and  to 
whom  1  think  I  owe  my  life  for  his 
care  and  attention  to  me  during  our  subsequent 
imprisonment  of  seven  weary  months.  Of  all 
the  horrors  produced  by  the  war.  captivity  was 
the  acme.  I  disclaim  having  any  liking  for 
fighting  battles,  but  I  would  sooner  go  into  two 
heavy  ones  per  week  than  to  take  my  chances 
with  a  rebel  landlord,  whose  hotel  is  an  open 
field,  where  the  bare  earth  is  a  bed  and  the  >ky 
the  pnly  blanket.  We  wished  ourselves  out  of 
the  jail,  where  the  numbers  were  so  large  we 
could  not  all  lie  down  :it  the  same  time,  i>ut 
many  times  later,  when  in  the  stockade  at  Camp 
Ford,  in  Tyler,  yearne  I  to  get  anywhere  under 
cover  again.  The  march  to  Tyler  was  a  foot- 
sore one.  and  we  were  "  played  out.'' 

We  found  here  the  officers  of  a  detachment  of 
the  Forty-secon  1  Massachusetts,  who  were  cap- 
tured at  Galveston  after  a  most  gallant  defence. 
some  months  before.  General  Isaac  3.  Burrell, 
Capt.  Alfred  N.  Proctor,  whom  I  had  known  in 
boyhood ;  Cant  Sherive.  now  deaa :  Lieuts. 
Newcomb,  Eddy,  Cowden,  (afterwards  killed  at 
a  fire  on  Blackstone  street,  Boston),  White  and 
others  were  good  Samaritans  to  us,  and  I  quar- 
tered with  them  till  their  exchange  in  Jaly. 
Corn  meal,  of  old-time,  ground  with  the  cobs, 
with  an  occasional  niece  of  blue  beef  and  a  few 


STORIKS    OF    OUR    SOLDIEHS. 


cow  pears,  constituted  our   rations.    How  we 
missed  "Lincoln  coffee!" 

CoL  A.  J.  H.  Duganne.  the  poet  and  novelist, 
was  among  our  numoer.  which  at  one  time 
aggregated  4600.  He  had  a  handful  of  coffee, 
which  he  baa  boiled  three  times  and  again 
dried,  and  which  he  was  saving  For  the  Fourth 
of  Julv.  He  sometimes  let  us  smell  of  the  rag 
in  which  it  was  tie  i  up  as  a  special  treat  and  a 
reminder  of  "God's  country."  Escapes  were 
planned  and  tunnels  dux,  but  almost  invariably 
exposed  to  the  guards,  by  some  one  inside,  be- 
fore completion. 

Suspicion  pointed  to  one  Bridges,  I  think  from 
Connecticut,  as  the  traitor.  Anyway  he  had  bis 
parole  to  go  outside, and  I  am  told  that  after  my 
exchange  a  tunnel  was  specially  dug  for  him, 
he  was  inveigled  into  it,  and  is  there  vet. 

One  day  I  got  a  chance  to  help  carry  out  the 
dead  for  burial  in  a  pit  outside.  The  pit  had 
long  been  in  use  and  had  on  it  a  rank  growth  of 
"pusley."  It  occurred  to  me  that  1  had  heard 
of  its  being  used  for  "greens."  and  1  carried 
back  an  armful,  and  Miller,  a  chum,  contracted 
to  cook  it  "at  the  halves."  1  skirmished  all 
over  tue  stockade  for  salt,  but  not  an  ounce  was 
inside  that  day.  The  greens  were  cooked  to  a 
salvy  condition  and  we  made  such  a  meal  as 
only  starving  men  can  maka  Humanity  was 
knocke i  out  of  us.  and  we  decline  I  to  share  our 
prize  with  our  comuanion>.  Unlucky  greed  1 
An  hour  sufficed  to  show  two  men  sick  nign 
unto  death.  The  human  stomach  must  have  the 
organ  of  memory,  as  to  this  day  the  thought  of 
that  dinner  of  pusley  "  sometimes  nauseates 
me. 

Exchange  failing,  four  01  us.  Captain  Dill  of 
the  One  Hun  red  and  Seventy-third  New  York, 
Lieutenant  Miller  of  the  Fifth  Kansas  Cavalry, 
Ensign  Loan  of  the  navy,  and  mvself,  lai  1  a 
plan  of  escape.  Our  method  is  only  known  to 
Ourselves.  The  scheme  was  to  steer  for  Little 
Kock.  Arkansas,  nearly  three  hundred  miles  in 
an  air-line.  Let  me  say  at  the  outset,  that  of  all 
the  sufferings  during  four  years  of  service,  this 
discounts  the  whole.  We  knew  that  every 
man's  hand  on  our  line  of  travel  was 
raised  against  us,  and  we  decided  to 
avoid  the  roads  and  keep  entirely 
in  the  forest  and  fields.  We  started  with  little 
food,  meal  browned  in  a  kettle  and  tied  in  a 
rag.  and  which  was  soured  by  a  rain  on  the 
night  of  our  escape.  Thus  equipped,  barefoot 
and  bareheaded,  with  no  compass  and  not  even 
a  solitary  match,  we  plunged  into  the  jungle 
and  darkness. 

At  daylight  we  came  across  a  party  who  had 
made  their  exit  piior  to  ours,  but  who  were  be* 
fogged,  and  were  going  back  toward  the  stock- 
ade. 

We  gave  them  their  course  towards  Shreve- 
port  and  parted.  Scarcely  had  we  done  this 
when  the  dogs  were  heard  coming  to- 
war  .s  us.  A  little  phial  of  turpentine 
which  Loan  bad  provided  was  quickly 
uncorked,  and  the  soles  of  our  feet  rubbed 
to  throw  the  hounds  off  the  scent.  We 


always  thought  this  ruse  succeeded,  as  the  doge 
apparently  followed  the  Shreveport  party,  and 
we  escaped  them.  Capt.  Dill  could  not  swim, 
but  we  had  promised  to  get  him  safely  across 
such  streams  as  came  in  our  way,  among  which 
were  the  Sabine  and  Red  Rivers.  The  latter 
we  approached  just  at  daylight,  after  traveling 
all  night,  which  was  our  rule,  biding  in  the 
day  time  to  lessen  the  chances  of  discovery. 
We  found  the  stream  a  raging  torrent  from  re- 
cent rains,  and  sought  for  a  suitable  point  to 
cross,  but  without  success.  Finding  we  were 
near  some  negroes  hoeing  cotton  we  concluded 
to  wait  till  nearly  night  and  then  seek  tneir 
assistance.  Tue  day  was  spent  in  picking 
thorns  from  our  feet  and  in  sleep. 


Night  approaching,  1  hailed  a  hand  nearest  us, 
who  at  iirst  was  scared  at  the  apnarition. 
Finally  he  came  to  me  and  I  told  him  of  our 
party,  and  that  we  were  on  our  way  to  Gen. 
Steele  in  Arkansas,  to  get  him  with  his  army  to 
come  down  to  Texas  and  liberate  the  slaves. 
The  nait  took  and  he  promised  to  bring  us  food 
at  dark,  an  i  showed  us  where  we  could  cross  the 
river.  True  to  his  word  he.  and  his  fellow 
blacks,  brought  us  two  pones  of  corn  bread,  and 
about  two  quarts  of  sour  milk  which  we  de- 
voured with  gusto,  having  eaten  nothing  for 
more  than  a  nay.  One  of  them  guided  us  to  the 
only  available  crossing,  some  six  miles  Distant, 
and  left  us.  It  was  very  dark  and  we  dared  not 
cross  without  our  comrade  who  coul  1  not  swim, 
so  we  got  into  the  top  ol  an  unused  sawmill  and 
slept  till  daylight 


We  were  prisoners  here  until  night  eame 
again,  as  some  men  came  early  and  spent  the 
day  in  fiShinur.  At  sundown  they  were  gone, 
and  we  crosse  1  in  safety,  landing  some  hall  a 
mile  below  our  starting  point,  owing  to  the 
rapid  current,  and  to  the  log  ou  which  Dill  was 
toted  over.  A  huge  alligator  went  into  the 
water  from  the  bank  as  we  went  out.  Steering 
by  the  north  star,  our  only  guide,  we  soon  came 
to  a  body  of  water,  which  nonplusse  i  us.  It 
was  running  to  our  left,  and  it  was  <ecided  that 
it  was  the  Sabine  River  again.  I  claimed  that 
our  proper  course  was  down  stream,  but 
was  told  with  curses  that  that  course  would 
take  us  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  instead  of  to 
Little  Kock.  Argue  as  I  might  I  could  not  con- 
vince my  companions  that  we  had  struck  a 
huge  bend,  and  that  we  must  keep  to  the  left 
until  we  had  passed  it.  Blows  were  nearly  ex- 
changed in  the  controversy,  and  I  declined  to 
lead  further.  An  up-stream  course  was  taken, 
following  the  bank,  and  morning  found  us  back 
at  the  mill  whore  we  had  crosse  i,  with  a 
whole  night  wasted.  We  broke  pur  rule  here 
and  proceeded  through  a  heavy  pine  forest  until 
we  struck  a  field  ol  sweet  potatoes,  out  of 
which  we  succeeded  in  taking  a  half  iiozen 
young  tubers,  the  size  of  one's  linger,  which  we 
ate  raw.  The  next  night  we  entered  a  field  of 
cactus,  which  ^e  had  to  go  round,  as  we  were 
barefoot :  then  we  came  across  a  growth  of  "  May 
Pops,"  a  fine  fruit,  the  size  of  hens'  eggs,  and 
growing  on  the  ground.  We  literally  gorged 


IX   THE    SOUTHWEST. 


213 


ourselves  and  carried  away  what  we  could  for 
farther  supply. 

I  have  little  recollection  what  occurred  after 
this  until  our  cautura  I  knew  at  one  time  we 
were  lost  ii.  the  woods,  and  that  Miller  climbed 
a  tall  tree  to  find  our  star.  Suffice  it  to  say  that 
on  a  Sunday  morning:  at  daylight,  while  walk- 
ing in  a  deer  runway,  we  were  met  by  a  pack 
of  does  with  the  mountain  hunters  close 
behind,  and  surrendered  at  discretion.  We 
begged  them  to  help  as  on  our  way  anil  offered 
them  fabulous  sums  by  tit.:  of  truce,  but  it  was 
of  no  avail.  Our  captors  proved  to  be  Confed- 
erate soldiers,  home  on  furlough,  and  they  gave 
QS  the  only  kind  treatment  we  received  from 
any  ot  their  horde. 

We  were  taken  to  a  planter's  house  and  well  fed. 


At  night  the  whole  country  side  apparently 
came  to"  see  the  Yanks."  They  insisted  (hat 
we  should  -ing  them  some  songs,  especially 
comic  ones,  and  we  regaled  them  with  these: 
"  Star-spangled  Banner,"  and  "  Red.  White  and 
Blue,"  and  insisted  that  they  were  the  most 
comical  ones  we  knew.  We  proved  to  be  only  60 
miles  from  the  stockade  we  had  left,  and 
were  taken  back  by  easy  stages,  being 
allowed  to  ride  the  guards'  horses,  one 
at  a  time.  Arrived  and  cursed,  as  was 
the  custom  lor  runaways,  we  tar- 
ried in  our  old  hole  until  October,  when  an  ex- 
change of  «40  of  us  took  placa  1  have  not  time 
to  describe  our  trip  out  of  600  miles.  Many 
died  on  the  way.  but  the  happiness  of  the  sur- 
vivors can  never  be  appreciated  except  by  such 
fellows  as  (Jan tain  Jack  Adams  and  Major 
Davis  of  Boston,  who  have  tasted  the  bitter  of 
rebel  captivity.  DANA  W.  KINO. 


ESCAPED   FROM    CAMP   FORD. 


214 


STORIES    OF   OUB    SOLDIERS. 


NONE  TOO  GOOD  FOR  COL.  KING'S  BOYS. 


"I  want  to  relate  an  incident  connected  with 
Colonel  King."  said  Colonel  A.  C.  Hamlin  of 
Baneor. 

H  It  happened  at  a  railroad  junction  in  In- 
diana, just  at  the  close  of  the  war.  after  the 
mrrender. 

"Colonel  King's  regiment  had  been  ordered 
home  tor  final  master  oat  and  discharge  from 
service,  ana  his  route  North  law  through 
Indiana. 

"  The  story  is  of  interest  as  illustrating  the 
character  of  the  man. 

"He  arrived,  as  I  said,  at  the  station,  where 
ke  was  to  get  transportation  East. 

*'  On  reaching  the  <iepot  he  reported  to  the 
station  agent  with  a  requisition  for  cars  for  his 
officers  an  i  men. 

"The  agent  replied  that  he  was  all  ready  for 
him.  an  I  to  put  his  regiment  into  a  train  of 
Cattle  cars  standing  on  a  side  track. 

"  Right  in  front  of  the  station  was  a  fine  pas- 
senger inin  of  very  nice  cars,  just  about  to 
leave  in  the  regular  schedule  service. 

"The  Colonel's  wrath  rose  within  him. 

"He  immediately  threw  AD  officer,  with 
drawn  revolver,  into  the  cab  beside  the  engi- 


neer, with  orders  to  shoot  if  that  individual 
dared  to  pull  the  throttle.  A  sentry  with  loaded 
rifle  was  statione  i  over  each  car  coupling,  with 
instructions  to  shoot  the  first  person  who  at- 
tempted to  touch  them. 

"  Then  Colonel  King  gave  his  order  to  the 
company  comtnan  iers  to  march  their  men 
abo.tr  I  the  nice  passenger  cars.  When  the  en- 
tire regiment  was  in  the  train,  the  Colonel 
hunted  uu  the  conductor  and  noolly  informed 
him  that  he  was  all  ready  to  go. 

"The  train  official  stared  at  him,  and  then 
said.  '  Well,  you  can  get  those  men  out  of  there 
ju-*t  as  fast  as  they  went  in.  This  isn't  your 
train.' 

"King  looked  at  him  indignantly.  'I'd  have 
you  to  know,  sir."  said  he,  '  this  train  isn't  any 
too  gootl  for  my  boys ;  there's  nothing  in  this 
world  too  i.'OOf|  for  them. 

'"It  these  cars  ,-tay  here  till  doomsday  they 
shall  remain  in  them.  When  this  train  starts 
my  men  go  in  it.' 

"An  '  it's  needless  to  aaH  that  they  did.  The 
conductor  looke I  at  the  engineer,  took  in  the 
situation,  and  Colonel  King's  boys  rode  home  in 
comfort  and  in  style.  He  was  just  that  kind  of 
a  man  in  everything  he  did." 


DK.    GALLOUPE    IN   LIBBY    PRISON. 


215 


DR.    GALLOUPE    IN    LIBBY    PRISON. 


(The  story  of  a  prisoner  In  LIbby  is  the  tale  of 
Dr  Isaac  Francis  Oalloupe.  a  Harvard  graduate  of  1849. 
who  acted  as  a  military  Surgeon  (or  the  Seventeenth 
Massachusetts  during  the  war,  also  being  brevetted  Lisa- 
tenant  Colonel. 

J>r.  oalluiipe  joined  the  army  August  SI,  1861,  lea-Tina 
for  Washington  two  days  later.  Next  March  he  was  sent 
with  Burnslde's  expedition  to  Newborn,  N.  C.  April  4 
he  was  commissioned  Acting  Brigade  Surgeon  of  the 
First  Brigade,  First  Division,  Ninth  Armv  Corps.  On  the 
3d  of  May  he  became  the  Division  Surgeon  and  Medical 
Director  on  the  staff  of  MaJ.  lien.  J.  Q.  Foster.  He  had 
charge  of  jails  and  prisons  containing  prisoners  of  war, 
being  present  at  31  engagements  In  North  Carolina.  He 
was  in  charge  of  the  Foster  (U.  S.)  Hospital  at  Mewbera, 
and  afterward  became  the  Post  Surgeon  at  .Newbern. 
This  was  in  1863. 

At  the  battle  of  Bacheller's  Creek  he  was  taken  prisoner 
and  confined  at  Kinston  and  at  Richmond,  Va,  On  the 
first  of  the  following  March  he  was  exchanged,  and  re- 
turned to  Newbern.  where  he  resumed  his  duties.  He  was 
mustered  out  Aug.  10,  1864.  Dr.  Galloupe  Is  now  Presi- 
dent of  the  Board  of  United  States  Examining  Surgeons, 
residing  In  Boston.  His  former  home  was  Lynn. 

In  regard  to  the  ancestry  of  Dr.  Oalloupe  the  following 
may  Interest:  John  Gallop  came  from  England  In  1630, 
In  UM  solo  Mary  and  John.  According  to  Cooper's  .Naval 


History,  he  fought  the  first  naval  battle  In  this  country. 
He  was  the  owner  of  a  portion  of  Long  Island,  of  Gal- 
loupe's  Island  and  Nix's  Mate.  The  latter  was  granted 
him  by  the  State  for  some  service,  and  Is  now  washed 
awaj  His  son,  John  Gallop,  was  one  of  nine  Cap. 
tains  killed  In  the  noted  "Swamp  Fight "  at  Narragansett 
Both  grandfathers  were  soldiers  In  the  Revolutionary 
Army.  The  father  was  enrolled  In  the  war  of  1812. 
The  son  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch  Is  Surgeon  of  the 
Eighth  Massachusetts  Regiment,  ready  to  respond  when 
called. 

On  the  1st  of  February.  1864,  while  stationed 
at  Newbern,  N.  C.,  as  Acting  Brigade  Surgeon.  I 
was  awakened  at  4  o'clock  in  the  morning  by 
the  sound  of  heavy,  distant  firing. 

At  that  time  and  place  cannonading  meant  no 
boys'  play.  Upon  inquiring  at  headquarters  I 
found  that  an  outpost  at  Bacheller's  Creek.  13 
miles  distant,  defended  by  a  regiment  of  in- 
fantry and  a  few  pieces  of  artillery  in  a 
block  house,  had  been  vigorously  attacked, 
and  that  the  Commandant  had  sent  word  that 
he  did  not  need  assistance.  I  said  to  the  Gen- 
eral that  "where  there  was  so  much  firing 
somebody  must  get  hurt."  and  asked  "if  I  had 


216 


STORIES    OF   OUR   SOLDIERS. 


not  oetter  go  out  there:'  ne  saia  No.  we  may 
want  you  here  ''  I  went  out  and  listened  to  the 
booming  which  was  now  continuous  and  feel 
ing  uneasy  mounted  icy  horse  and  rode  toward 
the  point  of  attack 

Seeing  a  movement  in  tne  camp  ct  the  Seven 
lee  nth  Massachusetts  (my  regiment  and  hear 
ing  that  it  was  ordered  to  the  front.  I  gave  ot 
ders  to  the  stewarl  to  load  a  wagon  with  bos 
pital  supplies  take  two  ambulances  and  a 
stretcher  corps  and  follow 

vV  e  soon  arrived  on  the  field,  and  alter  dear 
ing  some  negro  huts  found  there  for  a  hospital 
the  stretcher  men  started  to  search  for  the 
wounded  We  were,  however,  too  near  as  the 
shells  fell  ail  around  us.  Just  then  one 
of  our  batteries  Hew  by  in  a  direction 
away  trom  the  battlefield  I  mounted  my  horse 
and  galloped  up  to  one  of  the  officers,  and  asked 
him.  'What  is  up?'  He  replied  We  are 
licked  to  ii— 1  "  Of  course  we  were  not  long  in 
following  him.  Our  forces  were  in  full  retreat, 
going  slowly  and  in  good  or  ler ,  artillery  in  the 
rear  retarding  the  enemy  by  constant  tiring 


soon  menaced  with  aeath  trom  ibis  source: 
fragments  of  shell  were  flying  all  about  as.  I 
got  behind  a  log  house  for  protection  but  the 
flying  splinters  of  wood  were  more  dan^erou* 
than  the  shells,  sc  I  returned  to  the  open 
fleiil  I  saw  man?  rebels  wounded  and  two  or 
three  killed 

The  shabby  condition  cl  the  reoe.*  surprised 
me.  No  two  were  dressed  alike.  One-tourth 
were  dressed,  in  part  in  captured  United  states 
clothing  ami  nearly  all  the  remainder  in  but- 
ternut homespun  evidently  cut  by  a  woman 
tailor  they  were  without  overcoats  and  hun- 
dreds ot  them  barefooted,  and  this  in  mid- 
winter They  seem«d  half -starved,  and  at  once 
commenced  searching  for  food,  quickly  devour- 
•ng  my  hospital  supplies.  A  small-oqx  hospital 
outside  the  lines  was  raided  and  all  the  food 
and  clothing  eagerly  taken. 

Their  guns  were  rusty  ana  accoutrements 
shabby  but  serviceable  !  talked  with  many 
of  them,  and  found  them  thoroughly  sick  of  the 
war  the  first  word  in  almost  every  case  being 
the  question.  When  do  you  think  this  war  will 
end?"  My  reply  was,  "  When  you  are  com 
oletely  ueaten.  and  that  will  be  soon." 


Alter  retreating  about  eight  miles,  being  then 
four  miles  from  Newborn  I  found  that  one  of 
the  wounded,  Lieut.  II.  A.  Oheever.  Adjutant 
of  the  Seventeenth  Massachusetts,  was 
apparently  dying  and  hoping  that  there 
would  be  time  enough  to  attend  to  him, 
had  him  taken  from  the  ambulance  for 
that  purpose.  I  found  him  in  a  state  of  col 
lapse  from  a  gunshot  wound  of  the  chest, 
after  removing  the  ball  he  rallied  and  was  re- 
placed in  the  ambulance  the  rest  of  the  am 
tulauce  train  had.  in  the  mean  time  passed  on. 


No  sooner  had  we  made  ready  to  start  than 
we  were,  in  a  flash,  surrounded  by  rebel  cavalry 
coming  as  it  were,  from  the  clouds  horses 
panting  men  with  flushed  and  excited 
faces.  pointing  their  carbines  »t 
our  little  hospital  squad  calling  cut 
"  Surrender'  i  held  out  my  hands  to  show 
that  we  were  unarmed  when  they  lowered 
their  guns  without  firing  I  have  since  won 
dered  that  some  of  them  did  not  shoot  while 
under  such  great  excitement  Nc  one  saw 
them  comine  the  first  w?  knew  we  were  sur 
rounded. 

The  sensation  caused  by  our  capture  can  be 
neither  imagined  nor  described,  A  few  moments 
before  we  were  among  hundreds  and  thousands 
of  comrades,  all  working  together,  then,  sud- 
denly, tney  had  completely  vanished,  and  we 
were  in  the  midst  of  the  enemy,  cut  off  from  all 
knowledge  of  and  communication  with  the 
world  as  effectually  as  if  we  had  passed  the 
.River  Jordan 

This  feeling  of  isolation  from  friends,  home 
and  "God's  country"  was  deeply  impressive;  to 
add  to  the  distress  of  this  novel  and  unwelcome 
condition,  we  were  completely  at  the  mercy  of 
the  enemies  of  our  country.  Our  retreating 
army  continued  artillery  firing,  and  we  were 


A  was  soon  ordered  to  fall  in '  with  other 
prisoners  to  be  sent  to  the  rear  but  begged  to 
be  allowed  to  remain  in  charge  of  the  wounded 
officer  before  named,  as  he  was  suffering  much 
from  his  wound .  this  I  was  allowed  to  do.  & 
parole  l>eing  given  me  in  writing  for  myself  and 
horse  by  Gen.  Walter  Harrison,  Inspector  Gen 
era!  on  the  staff  of  Gen.  fickett,  whom  I  now 
found  was  in  command  of  this  army  In  a  few 
minutes  a  staff  officer  mounted  my  horse  and 
when  I  remonstrated  and  showed  my  parole  he 
replied  that  'the  General  wanted  the  horse  for 
the  charge  on  our  works  to-morrow  Gen. 
Harrison  'had  a  few  words "  with  him.  Tae 
horse  was  a  splendid  animal,  and  had  carried 
me  through  many  tight  places  during  the  past 
fear  I  never  saw  him  again 

At  this  time  I  was  interviewed  by  Dr.  Hines 
and  Dr  Lewis  of  the  staff  of  Gen.  Pickett  The 
former  was  as  courteous  and  respectful  as  any 
friend  could  be.  but  the  latter  was  less  so  he 
took  a  great  fancy  to  my  rubber  coat,  and  offered 
me  two  of  my  hospital  blankets  for  it  I  de- 
clined, but  the  trade  was  nevertheless  made.  I 
had  heretofore  supposed  that  it  "took  two  to 
make  a  bargain.'  but  I  found  that  1  had  been 
mistaken.  He  told  me  that  his  sister  was  the 
wife  of  Rev  Dr  James  Freeman  Clarke  of 
Boston,  but  "on  account  of  the  abolition  senti- 
ments of  the  latter  he  had  to  be  ignored."  [This 
statement  is  erroneous  T  may  have  misunder 
stood  him 


Gen  Pickett  established  his  headquarters 
within  one  hundred  feet  of  the  negro  hut  where 
I  was  attending  to  my  wounded  men.  80  far  as 
I  could  see.  the  rebel  army  remained  quiet,  hut 
there  was  occasional  firing  from  our  forts 
through  the  day  In  the  evening  one  of  Gen, 
Pickett's  staff  informed  me  that  their  plan  was 
to  surprise  and  capture  our  gunboats,  by  an  ex- 
pedition down  the  Neuse  River,  and  then  charge 


v> 


DR.    GALLOUPE    IN    LIBBY    PRISON. 


219 


on  our  works  and  take  Newbern.  While  he  was 
telling  me  this  brisk  tirin  „'  was  beard,  which  he 
staled  was  from  the  attack  on  the  gunboats  and 
ibai.  tn  an  hour  our  whole  fleet  would  be  in 
their  possession  As  a  matter  of  fact  the  attack 
wa»  really  a  failure  ,  they  did  capture  one  boat, 
ttib  Underwriter.  i>ut  were  onliffdd  to  get  away 
with  but  a  few  prisoners,  in  their  small  boats, 
the  firing  from  our  forts  being  too  much  for 
them. 

At  this  time  another  staff  officer  told  me  that 
General  Pickett  had  sent  for  me.  I  found  him 
lying  011  the  ground,  in  common  with  the  whole 
army  having  "retired*  for  the  night. 
He  told  me  to  lie  down  by  his  side,  and  imme- 
diately hegan  to  question  me  anout  the  cou  .i- 
tion  of  our  defences  an  1  forces  I  answered  all 
his  questions  with  apparent  simplicity  but  1 
fear  tii.it  the  information  was  somewhat 
misleading.  After  remaining  with  him  aoout 
half  an  hour  I  ventured  to  inform  him  thai  I 
had  left  a  wounded  man  who  was  suffering 
much,  and  requested  th  it  I  might  return  to 
bim .  to  this  he  readily  assented. 

Tlie  next  day  I  was  surprised  that  no  attack 
teas  made  »y  the  rebels.  They  remained,  as  far  as 
aa  1  could  see.  quiet  all  day.  At  about  5  P  M.  I  was 
ordered  to  '  fall  in"  with  other  prison  TS.  to  be 
sent  to  the  rear.  The  prisoners  first  taken  had 
been  hurried  off  immediately  the  day  before. 


Out  cl  115  men  of  my  regiment  engaged,  b5 
had  been  captured ,  of  these,  three  only  ever 
returned.  The  rest  died  at  Anderson  ville  I  The 
rebels  captured  two  fine  two-horse  ambulances, 
an  i  it  was  provoking  to  see  our  wounded  carted 
off  in  their  wagons,  without  springs.  After 
about  an  hour  spent  in  getting  us  together  we 
were  started  off  four  abreast,  the  officers,  of 
whom  th  TB  were  auout  a  dozen,  in  front ,  there 
were  nearly  300  in  all.  The  road  was  sandy 
and  whoiiy  through  woods. 

Occasionally  we  came  to  a  house,  where  the 
column  was  halted,  and  ar  officer  called  out  the 
women  'there  were  no  men)  who  inspected 
each  prisoner.  1  did  not  learn  the  object  of  this 
until  the  next  day.  when  1  foun  ,  that  among 
the  prisoners  were  some  wno  had  de.serteu  troni 
them  an  i  enlisted  in  the  Union  army  and  this 
way  was  taken  to  identify  them.  At  about  9 
o'clock  we  were  turned  into  a  field  by  the  side 
of  the  road  to  bivouac  for  the  night  I  had  two 
light  blankets  but  gave  one  to  Capi.  tfailev. 
who  had  none.  I  took  off  my  boots  for  a  pillow 
and  tried  to  get  some  sleep.  i>ut  did  not  succeed. 
The  ground  was  cold  and  uneven,  I  had  on  thin 
flannel  clothing  and  a  thin  overcoat,  without 
lining,  and  shivered  all  night-  The  guard  made 
small  fires  on  the  ground,  and  1  could  see  them 
passing  their  bare  feet  through  tue  flames  to 
warm  them. 

At  2  o  clock  I  began  to  hear  troops  passing  to 
the  rear  there  were  cavalry  artillery  pon 
toons  siege  guns,  and  all  the  trappings  oi  a 
large  army  by  this  I  knew  that  the  attack  on 
Newbt-rn  nad  been  abandoned.  Oi  course  this 
was  good  news  for  us,  as.  in  my  opinion,  an  at- 


tac&  might  have  been  successful,  aa  a  large  part 
of  our  army  at  Nflwuarn  had  recently  been  seat 
to  remlorce  the  Army  of  the  Potomac. 

At  5  o'clock  A.  M.  we  were  again  started  on 
the  move,  halting  at  each  house  as  betore  In 
the  afternoon  one  of  the  men.  identified  as  a 
deserter  broke  through  the  guard  and  rushed 
into  tne  woous  the  guard  took  deliberate  aim 
and  fired  one  alter  another,  but  the  trees 
stopped  the  bails,  and  he  was  not  shot.  Some 
oi  me  guard  then  gave  chase,  and.  ot  course,  ha 
was  soon  overtaken  by  their  builets.  Alter  that 
ail  the  suspected  men  were  brought  to  the 
front,  and  the  guard  strengthened.  1  asked  one 
ol  the  reuei  oth'cers  '  way  tue  man  took  such  a 
risk?"  He  replied,  because  he  knew  he  would 
be  hung  lo-uiorrow 

Now  and  then  an  exhauster  prisoner  would 
tail  out .  when  that  happened  he  would  be  left 
in  the  woods  with  a  so.dier  to  guard  him.  How 
these  men  fared  1  never  knew  I  tried  my  best 
to  keep  up  with  the  column,  but  could  not  I 
gradually  te.l  behind  until  I  reached  the  rear 
guard,  when  I  would  start  in  'douule  quick" 
until  1  gained  the  front  again,  but  in  doing  this 
I  fell  down  many  times.  1  had  on  heavy  riding 
boots,  the  roads  were  sandy  and  my  feet  sank 
three  inches  at  each  step 

At  5  o'clock  P  H.  we  reached  Kingston,  hay- 
ing marched  forty  miles  in  twenty-four  hours. 
Here  we  were  met  by  a  small  crowd  of  men. 
whose  object  was  to  exchange  their  Confederate 
money  tor  watches,  or  anything  else  that  we 
would  part  with.  They  kept  crossing  in  front 
ot  us,  shouting.  "  Has  any  gentleman  got  a  gola 
watch  to  sell''  'Has  any  geiit>eman  got  ,<. 
silver  watch  to  sell?  'Has  any  gentleman 
got  a  knife  to  sell?  "  etc.,  etc. 

\\  e  were  ail  turned  into  the  Court  House,  the 
men  into  the  body  of  the  house  and  the  officers 
into  a  Mnall  gallery  tilling  it  full .  those  in  the 
rear  were  obliged  to  sit  or  lie  down  as  ihe  ceil- 
ing was  too  low  for  them  to  stand.  The  house 
presented  an  animated  scene  trading  was  go* 
ing  011  at  a  great  rate,  our  men  selling  every- 
thing that  they  could  do  without  Tne  noise 
and  com usion  were  very  great,  rest  and  sleep 
were  out  of  the  question.  1  crawled  under  a 
settee  to  avoid  being  stepped  on  and  pulled  off 
my  boots  the  next  morning  mv  feet  were  so 
inflamed,  blistered  and  swollen  that  1  could 
cot  put  them  on,  and  1  never  got  them  on  again. 

That  night,  passed  under  the  settee,  was  the 
most  agonizing  that  I  have  ever  endured. 

The  next  morning  at  10  o'clock  a  soldier  ap- 
peared with  a  greasy  haversack  full  of  corn 
meal,  shouting  ''Gentlemen  gruo,'  and  dealt 
out  to  each  officer  a  pint  of  it.  We  hired  him  to 
cock  it  for  us.  and  paid  him  $16  for  his  services. 
He  took  it  out  oi  doors,  mixed  it  with  water, 
and  baked  it  in  tin  plates  over  a  lire  on  the 
ground.  I  could  not  eat  it.  but  gave  it  to  who- 
ever would  take  it.  This  was  the  first  time 
that  food  bad  been  served  out  to  us.  This  was 
Thursday  morning;  my  last  meal  was  on  the 
previous  Sun  ay  night,  and  I  do  not  remember 
that  I  had  eaten  anything  in  the  meantime. 

Soon  after  this  T  was  allowed  to  so  to  the  hos 


220 


STORIES   OF   OUR   SOLDIERS. 


pita),  and  attended  the  wounded,  whom  I  found 
in  a  oarn,  and  store-house;  Union  men  and  Con- 
federates in  the  same  room.  The  surgeon  in 
charge  Dr  Holt,  was  more  than  kind  to  me; 
furnished  me  with  food,  obtained  for  me  a  pair 
of  second  hand  shoes,  made  of  canvas  (new  ones 
there  were  none;  large  enough  for  my  swollen 
feet,  and  di:l  all  he  could  for  me,  including  mak- 
ing an  application  to  Gen  Pickett  for  my  re- 
lease but  in  this,  without  success. 

He  told  me  that  he  had  receipted  for  me.  and 
I  could  go  where  J  pleased.  As  I  wore  a  gray 
military  overcoat  and  hat.  like  those  worn  by 
the  rebels.  I  was  not  recognized  as  a  "  Yankee." 
and  so  mingled  among  them  with  freedom. 
The  contrast  between  the  condition  of  their 
army  and  ours  astonished  me  Their  food, 
clothing,  and  supplies  were  as  meagre  as  they 
could  tie;  they  admitted  that  there  was  only  one 
thing  that  they  had  enough  of,  and  that  was  to- 
bacco; that  they  could  beat  us  in  that,  and  in 
nothing  elsa 

Some  of  the  ladies  looked  in  upon  as  at  the 
hospital,  partly  from  curiosity  to  see  the 
Yankees,  and  partly  to  sympathize  with  their 
sick  soldiers.  They  were  Creased  in  faded  cal- 
ico, iiut  were  nitrii  heade  I  and  haughty  Tney 
aske  I  me  many  questions,  but  did  not  come 
within  10  feei.  of  ma  In  reply  to  a  Questioner  I 
tol  her  1  came  irotn  the  good  old  State  of 
Massachusetts.  Ah."  said  she.  "if  it  wasn't 
for  M.issai  husHtts  "'6  should  not  be  where  we 
an  now  '  I  said  ••  very  true.' 

On  the  next  day  PV,L>.  4.  I  noticed  that  the 
w  ,oi>- .irmy  wait  getting  into  line,  as  If  fora 
PIT  ••.  I  inquired  ol  one  of  the  officers  what 
tin-  r  asori  .  i  this  was,  an  I  was  told  "  there  was 
v:  :n-r  to  »<•  a  k  ilin-r  "  and  was  asked  if  I  "  would 
lik  i.>~HAit?"  lie  sail  that  some  20  to  25 
pi  i  on  rs  ha  I  ttfien  tried  as  deserters  from  their 
ar  ny  .tn  i  were  now  to  be  hunt;,  and  that  the 
\\  LOU?  rmy  was  to  be  paraded  to  witness  the 
execution. 

1  he  preparation*  were  visible,  and  the 
th<'u.riits  of  the  thing  were  more  than  enough 
for  me 

At  this  time  I  conversed  with  or  rather  lis- 
tened to.  the  conversation  of  a  number  of  offi- 
cers Irom  Virginia,  whose  pomposity,  egotism 
and  ignorance  of  the  character  of  the  Northern 
people  amazed  me 

One  the  7th  of  February  the  wounded  were 
sent  to  Gouldsboro'  by  rail  and  i  went  with 
them  but  was  not  allowed  to  enter  the  hospital 
By  tbe  kindness  of  Dr.  Holt  I  was  provided  with 
lodging  in  a  private  house ,  the  next  morning 
breakfasted  at  a  large  hotel,  the  meal  consisting 
of  rice  coffee,  in  a  cup  without  a  saucer,  and  a 
piece  of  corn  Dread  in  a  broken  plate  Price  $5 

In  the  afternoon  I  was  started  for  Richmond  in 
charge  of  an  officer.  The  cars  were  over-crowded 
with  soldiers  ami  people  of  all  sorts  except  ne- 
eroes,  and  moved  at  the  rate  of  ten  miles  an 
hour.  I  sat  on  the  floor  mixed  up  with  soldiers 
in  gray,  and  was  taken  for  one  or  their  number. 
It  became  known,  however,  that  a  Union  sur- 
sreou  was  on  board  and  loud  calls  for  him  were 


made.  One  of  the  most  boisterous  ot  them  sat 
next  to  me ;  we  talked  together,  and  shared  the 
contents  of  our  haversacks,  but  he  did  not  tind 
me  out. 

We  arrived  in  Richmond  the  next  morning. 
Here  I  found  a  city  betokening  civilization.  an* 
1  said  to  myself,  it  could  not  ue  possible  that 
here,  in  a  city  like  this,  prisoners  could  be 
treated  with  such  cruelty  as  had  been  reported. 

But  1  had  to  change  my  mind  ,  I  found  that 
the  sufferings  of  our  men  were  far  greater  than 
had  been  tola,  and  that  language  was  made 
quate  to  describe  them. 

My  canvas  shoes  were  now  falling  apart,  and. 
by  the  counety  of  the  officer  in  charge  of  me,  I 
was  allowed  to  visit  the  shoe  stores  and  hotels, 
in  search  of  a  pair  of  slippers.  Out  none  could 
be  found.  Being  now  exhausted  1  requested  to 
be  turned  ov  r  to  the  authorities,  and  was  im- 
mediately taken  to  the  office  of  the  Provost 
Marsaal.  Gen.  VViuuer  who  sent  me  to  Libuy 
Prison,  ihe  walls  of  the  pris9ti  office  were 
hung  with  our  handsome  regimental  flags, 
union  down,  the  sight  of  wnicb  caused  a  feel 
ing  of  exasperation  to  come  over  me  that  1 
could  not  control. 

Still,  it  was  a  relief  to  be  once  more  among 
Union  men.  even  if  it  was  in  Libby  Prison.  I 
had  become  heartily  disgusted  with  tne  ever- 
lasting butternut 

Being  lame  and  sick  1  was  placed  in  what  was 
called  (by  courtesy)  the  hospital,  a  room  on  the 
lower  floor,  containing  about  50  sick  and 
wounded  officers.  There  were  in  all  1100 
Union  officer-,  in  the  building.  The  prisoners 
seemed  to  be  very  calm,  but  tbe  guanl  were  in  a 
state  ot  great  excitement.  A  large  uumuer  were 
patroling  the  bull  ling,  examining  the  doors, 
ceiling,  chimney,  stairs.  &c-  punching  every 
spot  with  their  muskets.  It  hai  just  been  ,is- 
covere  i  that  109  men  had  escaped  through  the 
famous  tunnel,  and  they  were  in  searc.i  ot  the 
place  of  egre>s.  There  wns  a  flight  01  stairs 
leading  to  the  next  floor  above  the  opening  to 
wnich  had  been  floored  over  a  guard  was 
placed  here,  with  orders  to  shoot  any  man  who 
should  attempt  to  steo  upon  them. 

It  was  also  known  that  Gen.  Butler  was  at 
Deep  Bottom,  12  miles  off,  and  it  was  feared 
that  he  would  pay  Richmond  a  visit. 

1  took  off  my  overcoat  and  sat  down  upon  iu 
A  prisoner  stepped  up  and  aske  1  me  my  name, 
where  1  was  captured,  and  a  lew  more  similar 
questions,  and  tnen  moved  on.  Others  di<i  the 
same,  and  this  Questioning  continued  for  about 
an  hour,  then  they  stood  arouu  t  in  small 
groups,  talking  and  sending  side  glances  toward 
me.  I  thought  nothing  strange  ot  this,  i  bad 
never  been  in  prison  before  and  supposed  tlm 
to  be  their  way  of  showing  interest  in  a  new 
comer 

After  about  two  hours  had  elapsed,  one  criad 
out  "  fresh  fish ;"  others  toot  up  the  cry,  until 
all  of  them  were  shouting,  at  the  top  of  their 
voices.  "  fresh  fish." 


DR.    GALLOUPE    IN    LIBBY    PRISON. 


221 


1  inquired  of  one  of  them,  a  Lieutenant  from 
Michigan,  what  the  meaning  of  this  was.  He 
xeplid,  "that  means  you,"  and  added,  "ye  bad  a 
narrow  escape,  didii't  ye?"  "1  made  up  my 
mind  10  kill  ye  "  (and  he  meant  iu)  He  then 
explained  thai  1  had  been  taken  tor  a  rebel 
spy.  sent  in  to  get  iniormadou  as  to  the  way  to 
the  tunnel  He  became  very  friendly,  and 
showed  his  friendship  uy  presenting  me  with 
two  potatoes,  worth  a  dollar  each.  He  seemed 
to  thiuK  lie  had  wronged  me,  and,  as  compensa- 
tion, continued  his  kindness  to  me  while  I  re- 
mained iu  Libby 

My  shoes  had  now  gone  entirely  to  pieces,  and 
my  limbs  were  still  so  swollen  that  1  could  not 
get  my  boots  on,  seeing  which  a  prisoner  loaned 
me  a  pair  of  pvershoes  made  of  buffalo  hide, 
with  the  hair  inside.  This  kind  friend,  1  tound, 
was  W  O  McAlackin.  the  Lieutenant  Colonel 
of  General  Grant's  regiment.  21st  Illinois:  he 
left  the  state  with  the  General  (then  Co.onel), 
was  captured  at  Chicicamauga.  and  ha  i  been  a 
prisoner  auout  a  year  When  1  was  released  1 
gave  him  my  boo  is,  and  so  we  both  ma  le  a 
good  bargain,  inasmuch  as  1  could  not  wear  the 
boots,  and  he  was  destitute  of  the  article. 


For  several  days  following  my  entrance  to 
hii > uy  we  were  uained  to  see  many  of  the 
escape  1  prisoners  returned,  many  sick  or 
wounded,  and  all  in  an  exuausted  condition 

Tue  diet  of  the  prisoners  has  been  often  de- 
scribe I.  Finding  my->eli  losing  strength  for 
waut  ot  foo  i.  1  gave  one  of  the  guard  $13  with 
with  which  to  buy  me  something  to  eat.  In  two 
or  three  days  1  received  13  cookies  that  looked 
and  tasted  like  the  New  England  article,  and 
which  had  been  obtained  from  a  "confiscated 
box  "  from  the  North.  1  placed  them  under  my 
head  at  night,  resolving  to  eat  but  one  each  iay. 
and  thus  have  sometniug  in  reserve.  During 
the  night  rats  maue  an  attack  on  them,  and, 
while  trying  to  find  a  safer  place  for  them.  I 
•concluded  to  allow  myseli  to  eat  one,  but,  alas. 
the  temptation  was  too  great  to  be  resisted:  the 
whole  thirteen  disappeared,  an  1  1  di  i  not  feel 
that  1  had  eaten  too  much.  In  the  morning  I 
found  that  the  rats  had  eaten  away  the  shoulder 
of  my  coat,  leaving  a  hole  six  inches  in  dia- 
meter, and  that  a  considerable  portion  of  the 
cape  of  my  overcoat  was  gone. 

At  this  time  "boxes"  trom  home  were  not 
delivered  to  the  prisoners  (although  6000  were 
stored  in  a  building  near  by)  except  a  few  to 
prisoners  in  hospital :  these  were  not  delivered 
entire;  the  contents  of  a  box  were  tumble  I  into 
a  dirty  blanket;  butter,  doughnuts  and  many 
other  things  mixed  promiscuously  together. 
All  cans  were  opened  ana  contents  spilled 
among  the  other  articles.  In  this  condition  they 
were  dumped  upon  the  floor  and  the  owner's 
name  called.  At  the  same  time  the  men  in 
charge  of  this  much  needed  food  lived  like 
"  fighting  cocks."  at  least  so  they  said. 


The  keenness  with  which  the  prisoners  eluded 
the  rules  of  the  orison  seemed  almost  super- 
human. One  rule  was  that  there  should  be  no 
communication  between  the  different  rooms  of 
the  bull  ling:  nevertheless,  messages,  both 
written  and  verbal,  were  constantly  passing  to 
ana  fro.  On  waking  from  a  nap  one  day  I  found 
a  not<'  directed  to  me  from  Capt.  F.  R  Josselyn 
of  a  Massachusetts  regiment,  who  was  a  prisoner 
on  the  floor  above  Mv  friend,  the  Michigan 
Lieutenant,  could  not  tell  me  how  it  got  there, 
but  said  that  my  answer  would  be  forwarded  at 
once,  and  it  was,  I  never  knew  how.  Freauently 
the  method  of  communication  would  be  dis- 
covered and  aholishi-d,  nut  in  a  few  minutes  a 
new  route  would  be  established. 

Several  of  the  men  seemed  to  have  plenty  of 
flour,  which  they  made  into  griddle  cakes,  and 
fried  upon  a  small  stove  in  their  possession.  On 
being  naked  where  they  obtained  the  flour,  they 
replied:  "The  Rebs  furnish  if'  A  lot  of  floor 
was  stored  under  the  building,  and  they  some- 
how got  at  it  in  the  night,  even  while  the  guard 
were  watching  them,  and  they  kept  up  the 
practice  several  weeks  before  they  were  discov- 
ered. 

On  the  arrival  of  a  flag  of  truce  boat  at  City 
Point  a  vigorous  shout  of  "  Boat  up,  boat  up," 
would  be  heard  all  over  the  building,  and  that 
before  the  prison  officials  were  aware  of  the 
boat's  arrival. 

According  to  the  cartel,  I  was  entitled  to  be 
released  by  tne  first  flag  of  truce.  As  this  was 
not  done.  1  wrote  a  note  to  the  Commissioner  of 
Exchange.  Robert  Auld,  calling  his  attention  to 
the  omission,  but  without  result. 

At  last,  on  the  27th  of  February,  I  was  out  on 
board  the  rebel  flag  of  truce  boat,  with  IS 
others,  civilians,  from  Castle  1'hunder,  one  of 
whom,  a  correspondent  of  the  New  York  Trib- 
une, had  been  a  pri-oner  for  a  year.  Another 
was  a  woman,  who  had  been  captured  as  a 
soldier  in  uniform. 

The  ever-prominent  food  question  induced 
me  to  ask  the  officer  in  charge  of  us  for  "  some* 
thing  to  eat."  His  reply  was:  "  You  will  be  on 
board  the  City  of  New  York  in  two  hours,  where 
you  will  get  something  a  d— d  sight  better  than 
we  can  give  you."  We  were  all  put  into  the 
hoi  i  of  the  vessel,  under  guard,  to  prevent  our 
seeing  their  defences  on  the  river  banks. 

At  last  our  eyes  and  hearts  were  gladdened 
by  the  sjyht  of  our  flag  of  truce  boat,  with  the 
glorious  Stars  and  Stripes  floating  at  the  mast- 
head. 

Oh!  how  grand  and  beautiful  was  that  sight! 
ami  what  a  thrilling  and  happy  sensation  we 
felt  on  stepping  upon  the  deck  under  that  flag. 

ISAAC  F.  GALLOUPE. 

Late  Surgeon  Seventeenth  Massachusetts, 
Brevet  Lieut.  Col.  U.  8.  V. 


MAINE'S  HEROES. 


Among  the  most  famous  of  all  the  regiments 
in  the  late  war  was  one  known  first  as  the 
Eighteenth  Maine,  ana  later  as  the  First  Maine 
Heavy  Artillery.  For  bravery,  exposure  and 
"  hard  lack,"  as  the  survivors  are  wont  to  ex- 
press it.  few  regiments  in  any  war  of  modern 
times  can  snow  a  record  equaling  it  The  nu- 
cleus of  it  arrived  in  Bangor  July  24.  1862.  be- 
ing  a  company  of  farmers,  woodsmen  and  river 
drivers  Irom  the  back  settlements  of  Penobscot 
county. 

August  4.  teams  from  Houlton,  110  miles 
away,  brought  in  the  second  company. 
Aug.  16,  the  regiment  was  filled,  and  Col. 
Chaplin  applied  for  orders  to  join  the  army.  It 
was  mustered  into  service  by  Capt.  Bartlett  of 
the  Twelfth  United  States  Infantry,  and  Sun- 
day, Aug.  21,  left  in  20  cars  for  Washington.  It 
performed  garrison  duty  for  five  months  on  the 
Virginia  side  of  the  Potomac,  when,  by  order  of 
the  War  Department,  it  became  known  as  the 
First  Maine  Heavy  Artillery. 

The  regiment  retained  its  rifles  as  at  first, 
with  both  light  and  heavy  ordnance  in  forts 
and  batteries.  Eight  companies  were  stationed 
at  Fort  Alexander,  under  the  immediate  com- 
mand of  Col.  Chaplin:  Company  E  at  Batteries 
7ermont  and  Mattox,  with  Company  K  at  Bat- 
teries Cameron  and  Parrot  Here  it  remained 
the  entire  year  of  1863,  and  in  March  the 
Third  Battery  was  added,  and  was  known  as 
Company  M, 

In  February,  1864,  it  had  1800  men.  On 
May  15  of  that  year  the  War  Department 
ordered  it  to  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  and  it 
debarked  later  at  Belle  Plain  Landing.  On  the 
19th  it  was  put  into  a  figtit  against  the  enemy, 
who  had  made  an  advance  and  captured  a  tram 


of  supplies.  It  won  s  victory  in  two  hours  and 
a  half,  losing  six  commissioned  officers  killed, 
six  commissioned  officers  wounded.  76  enlisted 
men  killed  and  388  enlisted  men  wounded; 
total,  476  men 

On  the  18th  of  June  it  advanced  on  the 
enemy's  lines  in  the  vicinity  of  the  O'Haire 
House,  and  carried  them.  That  evening  it 
aerain  advanced  upon  works  extending  from 
600  to  700  yards  in  front  of  its  position,  so  ar- 
ranged as  to  sweep  by  direct  and  enfilade  fires 
each  toot  of  the  intervening  plain.  The  first 
battalion  was  swept  away  while  going  the  first 
100  yards ;  whole  companies  reeled  before  the 
shock,  yet  on  went  the  rest  toward  death.  They 
were  repulsed.  It  lost  in  20  minutes  7  commis- 
sioned officers  killed,  25  wounded,  108  men 
Killed  and  464  wounded ;  total.  504  men. 

July  14  the  regiment  arrived  at  the  north  side 
of  Deep  Bottom,  and  on  the  morning  of  the  18th 
a  sharpshooter  Killed  CoL  Chaplin.  A  New 
York  regiment  had  been  ordered  to  advance  out 
did  not  follow.  Therefore  Col.  Chaplin's  last 
words,  as  he  was  taken  from  the  field,  were  sug- 
gested by  the  action  of  the  New  York  troops. 
He  said:  "Tell  the  boys  to  obev  orders  and 
never  flinch."  CoL  Chaplin  had  entered  the 
service  May  28. 1861.  He  was  then  Captain  in 
the  Second  Maine.  In  September  of  that  year 
he  was  Riven  the  rank  of  Major,  and  was  made 
a  Colonel  July  11,  1862. 

At  the  battle  of  Hanover  Court  House,  Gen.  A. 
P.  Martin  of  Boston,  then  in  command  of  "  Mar* 
tin's  Battery."  lost  his  guns  to  the  enemy.  Ma- 
jor Chaplin,  seeing  this,  started  to  ro-caoture 
them,  leading  in  person  a  portion  of  the  Second 
Maine.  On  the  first  advance  the  enemy  opened 
fire  and  Chapiiu  fell  back.  In  the  assault* 


MAINE  S    HEROES. 


225- 


ritle  ball  struck  the  scabbard  of  Chaplin,  bend- 
ing ii  so  the  sword  could  not  be  drawn. 


Seeing  this.  Gen  Martin  drew  his  own  sword 
and  aare  ii  to  Chaplin  The  latter  charged 
again,  took  the  battery  and  turned  it  ovur  to  its 
commander.  Gen.  Martin  afterwards  wrote  a 
ban  .some  letter  of  thanks  to  Col.  Chaplin,  re 
fusing  to  lake  bacK  the  sword.  Though  Col. 
Chaplin  was  a  much  taller  man  than  Gen. 
Martin,  and  his  disabled  blade  was  two  inches 
longer  than  the  one  Gen.  Martin  bad  given  him. 
he  said  tae  latter  was  better  balanced,  aud 
cariied  it  until,  one  pay-day,  the  privates  and 
non-commissioned  officers  contributed  $1000 
and  bought  Col.  Chaplin  a  new  blade.  The 
widow  of  Col.  Chaplin  lias  the  disableu  blade  in 
her  home  in  Bangor ;  her  son  has  tbe  Martin 
swortl  in  St.  Louis,  while  the  $1000  weapon  is  in 
a  bangor  bank  vault. 

Tho  charge  and  terrible  death  roll  of  the  First 
Maine  Heavy  Artillery  on  June  18  have  always 
been  fruitful  sources  of  discussion  in  G.  A.  H. 
circles.  It  was  for  years  a  disputed  ques 
tion  as  to  who  ordered  iu  The  following  letter 
written  Major  Low  of  Bangor.  and  ot  the  ro/i 
men  i,  by  Gen.  Kobert  McAllister,  freely  explains 
the  matter  • 

ALLENTOWN.  Pa,.  Jan.  14. 1871. 
Maj.  Fred  C.  Low  . 

Dear  Sir— In  all  of  my  army  experience  no 
scene  of  carnage  aud  suffering  is  so  impressnd 
on  my  mind  as  that  fatal  charge  made  uy  your 
regiment  on  June  18,  1864.  Tbe  history  of  that 
charge,  as  well  as  the  one  preceding  it,  is  very 
familiar  to  me.  1  took  part  in  the  tirst.  I  was  in 
command  of  the  Second  Brigade  of  the  division. 
On  tne  morning  of  tlie  18th  we  moved  forward 
on  tne  enemy's  works,  carried  the  first  line 
without  much  difficulty,  as  the  enemy  were 
about  leaving  this  line  for  a  stronger  one  in  the 
rear  of  iu  Arriving  iu  front  of  tlr.it,  we  found 
it  manned  by  a  strong  force  ol  artillery  and  in- 
fantry. Alter  delaying  a  little  I  was  ordered  to 
advance  on  the  enemy's  works.  We  went  for 
ward. 

They  ooured  on  my  brigade  a  terrific  storm 
of  shot,  shell  and  musketry,  and  my  men  fell 
like  forest  leaves  in  a  nail  storm. 

Seeing  the  utter  impossibility  of  advancing 
further  we  dropped  down,  planted  our  standard 
along  tbe  line  and  kept  up  the  fire.  I  sent  a 
report  back  to  division  Headquarters  asking 
what  I  was  to  da  Orders  came  to  retire  from 
my  position.  In  doing  this  I  lost  heavily. 

On  reporting  to  Gen.  Mott  for  orders  1  was 
ordered  to  place  my  brigade  on  the  reserve 
ready  for  action.  I  asked : 


•\Vhere  is  my  old  brigade?" 

Gen  Mott  replied : 

"Just  going  in  where  you  came  out." 

1  exclaimed,  "God  help  them!" 

He  a>ked  "  Why?" 

I  answered . 

"They  cannot  advance  on  these  works— they 
cannot  live— the  enfilade  fire  will  cut  them 
down."  Just  as  1  sal  I  this,  an  aid  from  head- 
quarters rode  up  and  said  to  the  General . 

"Order  the  advance  at  once."    It  was  dona 

Your  brigade  moved  off,  your  fine  regiment 
handsomely  in  the  front.  You  went  gallantly, 
but  not  to  meet  success.  This  was  impossible— 
you  were  a  forlorn  hope.  In  a  few  minutes,  out 
of  your  regiment  which  advanced  900  strong. 
632  lay  low  on  the  battlefield.  Darkness  soon 
overspread  the  field,  and  I  was  very  anxious 
that  my  wounded  men  who  had  fallen  in  tbe 
previous  charge  and  lay  between  the  enemys 
lines  ami  ours  should  be  brought  off,  as  well  as 
those  of  your  brigade  an  I  regiment,  some  of 
whom  had  advanced  still  farther  than  mine.  I 
sent  men  out;  the  enemy  discovered  them  and 
opened  fire  The  onoortunity  was  thus  lost 

All  that  night  we  could  distinctly  hear  the 
groans  of  tbe  wounded  and  their  cries  for  help;, 
but  no  succor  could  be  sent  them  on  account  of 
tbe  constant  fire.  My  brigade  worked  all  night 
long  to  push  our  works  forward  so  that  we 
might  rescue  them  That  terriole  night  at  last 
broke  into  another  day.  the  19th,  the  battle  con 
tinued  with  increasing  furv  1  The  sun  uoured 
down  on  the  dying  aud  wounded  anu  amid  the 
rattle  of  musketry  and  roaring  of  cannon  we 
heard  the  cries  of  our  comrades  for  water  ! 
water  I 

When  the  long,  terrible  dav  was  over  and 
night  again  threw  tier  dark  mantle  over  the 
contending  forces,  and  the  fire  slackened.  1 
pushed  my  brigade  forward  and  built  new 
breastworks,  the  line  ot  which  ran  through 
where  your  men  lay  thickest,  and  most  of  your 
dea  I  and  wounded,  as  well  as  mine,  were 
brought  off  That  line  was  never  pushed 
farther,  but  remained  as  our  advanced  outpost 
until  the  end  of  that  great  and  terrible  struggle 
before  Petersburg 

Whether  History  will  do  you  justice  or  not. 
permit  me  to  say  that  no  language  can  be  too 
strong  in  its  praise  of  your  gallant  regiment  in 
that  splendid,  noble,  heroic  charge — when  al- 
most three- fourths  of  your  number  fell— fight 


ing  for  their  country      This,    then,    my   dear 
Major,  Is  wny  I  regard 
Artillery  as  a  grand  regiment 


ly  I  regard  the  First  Maine  Heavy 


1  am  yours  very  truly. 

ROBERT  MCALLISTER. 
Late  Brevet  Major  General  U.  S.  A.  Volunteer- 


•226 


STORIES    OF   OUR   SOLDIERS. 


GENERAL  MARTIN'S  STORY. 


"At  3  o  clock  on  the  morning  of  the  27th  ot 
j.  1862.  we  took  up  the  line  of  march  from 
Gaines's  Mills  to  Hanover  Court  House,  where  it 
was  supposed  the  Fifth  Army  Corp?  was  to 
effect  a  junction  with  Gen.  McDowell's  corps. 
then  at  Fredericksburg.  and  was  to  have  come 
down  to  the  Hanover  Court  House  to  join  the 
Fifth  Corps  in  an  advance  on  Richmond,  sep 
arate  from  the  main  army 

"  Arriving  at  the  intersection  of  roads  on  the 
way  to  Hanover  Court  House,  when  it  was  sup- 
posed that  reinforcements  might  be  sent,  the 
Forty-fourth  New  York.  Second  Maine  and  two 
guns  of  my  battery— I  was  then  a  Captain— were 
left  under  command  of  General  Martindale  to 
guard  that  position,  while  the  main  body  of  the 
corps,  under  General  Fitz  John  Porter,  ad 
vanced  still  further  on  towards  Hanover  Court 
House, 

**  Before  reaching  there,  however,  sounds  of 
musketry  and  artillery  tiring  were  heard  in  the 
rear,  where  an  engagement  had  been  com 
menced  between  Gen.  Branch's  North  Carolina 
troops  and  Gen.  Martindale's  brigade.  At  this 
time  Gen.  Martindale  was  forced  back  and  the 
two  guns  of  my  battery  were  temporarily  in  the 
hands  of  the  enemy. 


"But  General  Martindale  rallied 
and  made  a  splendid  attack,  routing  the  enemy 
and  recapturing  the  two  guns.  In  this  batwe 
the  Second  Maine  Regiment  fought  gallantly, 
and  in  recognition  of  the  great  service  rendered 
by  the  officers  and  men  of  this  regi 
ment,  I  presented  Major  Chaplin  with  a  sword 
(I  had  two)  to  replace  one  that  had  been  broken 
by  a  mmie  bullet  during  the  conflict. 

"  Before  the  main  body  of  the  Fifth  Corps 
reached  the  point  of  engagement  between  Gen. 
Mariindale's  brigade  and  the  rebels  under  Gen. 
Branch,  the  enemy  had  been  completely  routed 
and  driven  to  the  rear 

"  I  would  like  to  say  that  no  troops  ever  fought 
better,  more  gallantly,  or  achieved  a  more  de- 
cisive victory  than  Gen.  Martmdale's  brigade 
at  the  Hanover  Court  House. 

"Col.  Ro  erts  and  Lieut.  Col.  Varney  were 
equally  entitled  to  praise  and  recognition  with 
Col.  Chaplin  for  courage  and  ability  that  they 
displayed  on  the  battlefield.  The  sword  pre- 
sented to  Col.  Chaplin  was  intended  to  be  as 
much  of  a  compliment  to  the  whole  command 
as  to  any  one  member  of  it 

GEN.  A.  P.  MABTHI." 


A    TRICK    OF   THE    REBELS. 


[First  Lieutenant  Aaron  Ring,  Q.  M.  and  A.  C.  S.  of  tbe 
Thirteenth  Regiment  of  Maine'*  Infantry,  was  Post  Quar- 
termaster and  A.  C.  S.  at  Forts  Jackson,  St.  Philip  and 
tbe  Quarantine  Station  daring  the  time  ot  thi»  interesting 
Incident.] 

At  the  time  the  Thirteenth  Regiment  of  Maine 
Volunteers  were  doing  garrison  dutv  at  Forts 
Jackson,  St.  Philip  and  at  quarantine  there  was 
a  Confederaterecruuing  camp  a  short  distance 
from  Pass  a  1'Outre  on  the  main  land,  very  short 
of  rations;  they  had  their  friends  at  New  Or- 
leans watching  chances  to  send  them  food. 
The  Quartermaster  of  the  torts  visited 
New  Orleans  about  this  time  for  army 
stores.  After  making  requisition  for 
about  $10.000  worth  he  called  on  the 
Quartermaster  of  tbe  Department  of  the  Gulf 
for  transportation  of  the  goods  from  New  Or- 
leans to  the  forts.  The  steamer  Fox,  a  small 
side-wheeler,  the  one  Slideli  and  Mason  went 
to  Cuba  in,  was  turned  over  to  him  with  a  crew 
ci  sixteen  men  and  a  captain,  all  supposed 
to  t>e  Confederate  neutrals.  Dr.  Gor.lon, 
now  in  Portland,  Me.,  being  Assistant  Surgeon 
of  the  Thirteenth  Regiment  and  in  New  Orleans, 
asked  for  passage  to  the  forts  in  the  Fox. 


He  and  the  Quartermaster  of  the  forts  were  the 
only  ones  with  Yankee  blood  in  them.  The  Fox 
lei  t  the  city  about  3  o'clock  P.  M.,  and  paddled 
gently  down  the  river  with  the  current,  passed 
quarantine  station  about  dark:  as  the  steamer 
turned  the  bend  in  the  river  near  the  signal 
station  and  about  two  miles  to  Fort  St.  Pnilin. 
they  ignored  the  signal  gun  from  the  fort, 
and  paid  no  regard  to  the  boat  in  the 
river  with  red  lights,  which  immediately 
threw  up  red  rockets.  The  garrison  of 
the  fort  were  called  to  quarters  and 
opened  on  the  Fox  with  shot  and  shell.  The 
Quartermaster  walked  around  on  the  guard, 
saw  the  lights  were  out,  and  only  one  mm  on 
deck,  and  he  at  the  wheel.  He  then  nvvle  up 
his  miii  i  they  were  trving  to  steal  the  Fox  and 
all  on  board,  knowing  the  way  these 
fellows  would  attempt  it.  They  draw  lots  to  see 
who  shall  steer  the  boat  throueh:  the  one  the 
lot  falls  on  goes  to  the  wneel,  the  rest  go  down 
into  the  well-room  below  the  water-line,  out  OS! 
ra»ge  of  direct  shot  and  shelL 

The  Quartermaster  told  Surgeon  Gordon  who), 
he  thought  was  UP,  an  I  if  the  doctor  would 
stand  near  him  with  revolver  and  shoot  down 
any  man  who  attempted  to  knife  him,  he  would 


BATTLE    OF    SAVAGE'S    STATION. 


227 


do  the  rest  at  the  proper  time.  The  Quarter- 
master an-1  his  friend  waited  under  tire  to  the 
music  of  shot  and  shell  in  the  wood  piles  on 
•liore  and  the  beating  to  quarters  in 
Fort  Jackson,  and  saw  them  throw  UP 
white  lights,  which  seemed  to  float  in 
the  air  several  minutes,  giving  light  all 
around.  When  they  went  out  it  was  like 
Egyptian  darkness;  you  could  feel  it!  Soon  as 
thev  turned  the  second  bend  in  the  river  near 
Fort  St.  Philip,  Fort  Jackson  opened  on  them. 
When  the  steamer  had  gone  far  enough  to 
rouivi  up  good  at  tiie  fort,  the  Quartermaster 
stepped  to  the  wheel  house  and  told  the  man  to 
put  the  boat  itito  Fort  Jackson.  The  man  said 
the  ropo  was  broken  from  the  wheel ,  she  would 
not  mind  her  helm.  He  told  him  to  give  ihe 
wheel  a  turn— "  We'll  see."  Holding  his  re- 
volver close  to  the  man's  head  and  watching 
him,  he  saw  that  the  s  earner  came  around  ,  ike 
a  bird  and  beaded  towards  the  wharf  at  Fort 
Jackson ! 

All  this  time  the  forts  were  trying  to  strike 
them,  nut  the  fear  of  the  forts  was  nothing  com- 
pared to  the  seventeen  desperate  fellows  within 
"trikiug  distance.  The  stores  were  landed 


in  the  fort  that  night  and  the  captain  and  offi- 
cers of  the  boat  put  under  guar  1  till  morning. 
At  the  hearing  next,  morning  the  captain 
of  the  Fox  showed  what  purported  to  be  an 
order  Irom  tne  Quartermaster  of  the  Depart- 
ment of  the  Gulf  to  go  down  to  the  Belize  and 
I'ring  up  any  vessel  with  goods  on  for  the 
United  States  Government.  Upon  his  showing 
this  the  Colonel  com  maiming  the  post  allowed 
him  to  go,  an  I  quietly  turned  the  laugh 
on  the  Quartermaster  of  the  post.  Two 
days  later  the  Quartermaster  received 
a  telegram  asking  where  the  Fox  was. 
This  was  shown  to  the  Colonel,  and  he  ex- 
plained, and  trot  an  answer  back,  that  the  pe.r- 
mit  to  go  to  the  Belize  was  a  forgery — no  such 
order  or  permit  was  given.  Then  the  laugh  was 
on  the  Colonel  of  the  oost.  Little  more  than  a 
week  later  we  heard  v  way  of  a  gunboat  that 
chased  the  Fox  ttom  Pass  a  I'Ouire  over  to  the 
rebel  ca'np,  and  saw  the  man  set  her  on  tire, 
and  aro  on  shore  and  up  into  the  camp — the  gun- 
boat remaining  to  see  the  Fox  burn  to  the 
water's  e>ige. 

AARON  RING. 
Hyde  Park.  114  Gordon  avenue. 


BATTLE  OF  SAVAGE'S  STATION. 


1  have  been  an  interested  reader  of  the  many 
•Well-written  articles  in  the  Journal's  war-time 
recollections.  The  Journal  found  a  rich  vein 
when  it  opened  its  columns  to  these  publica- 
tions. I  hope  it  finds  them  profitable  to  itself, 
as  well  as  interesting  to  its  readers.  Some  of 
the  stories  told  come  very  near  us. 

We  belonged  to  the  "Corps  of  Observation," 
at  Poolesville,  Md. ;  and  we  were  "in  it"  at 
Fredericksburg.  We  must  have  been  very 
Close  to  Pension  Agent  Osborne  that 
day  at  Savage's  Station.  We  distinctly 
remember  the  incident  of  the  burn- 
Ing  train.  The  grand  spectacle  it  presented 
as  it  disappeared  around  the  curve,  the  explo- 
sion, and  the  cone-shaped  cloud  of  steam  that 
rose  above  the  trees,  and,  gradually  expanding, 
floated  away  a  trembling  mass  of  white  vapor. 

That  same  29th  day  of  June.  1862 — one  of  the 
eventful  "  Seven  Days  "—was  pretty  well  filled 
with  stirring  events.  It  was  in  the  dim  light 
an  i  fog  of  its  early  morning  that  we  abandoned 
the  works  we  had  built  with  so  much  labor 
and  care.  Retreating  toward  White  Oak 
Swamp,  we  halted  twice  to  repel  the  attacks  of 
the  pursuing  enemy,  reaching  Savage's  Station 
about  noon,  I  think,  though  I  have  no  means  of 
recalling  the  exact  time.  I  write  of  Savage's 
Station,  since  Comrade  Osborne  calls  up 
the  memory,  because  in  the  fire  of  this 
battle  was  forged  one  of  the  links 
in  the  David  and  Jo  .athan  chain  of  friendship 
that  the  war  wrought  between  the  Fifteenth 
Massachusetts  and  First  Minnesota.  We  had 
oeen  brought  together  by  the  "fortunes  "—or. 


rather,  misfortunes— of  war  on  the  upper 
Potomac  in  1861. 

We  had  suffered  a  terrible  "baptism  of  fire" 
at  Bull  Run,  ami  they  had  been  equally  unfor- 
tunate at  Ball's  Bluff.  Our  mutual  adversities 
may  have  attracted  us  to  each  other.  Be  ttiat 
as  it  may  we  had  "summered  and  wintered  " 
together,  been  tried  with  one  another  on  the 
march  and  in  the  tire  of  battle.  Our  experi- 
ences had  brought  mutual  respect  and  confi- 
dence, and  each  faced  the  drea  1  ordeal  of  battle 
more  confidently  if  the  other  was  .supporting 
or  covered  a  Sank.  Our  division,  the  Second. 
Secona  Corps,  was  massed  in  the  open  around 
atSavage's  Sta  ion  when  the  "Johnnies"  "stirred 
us  up  with  a  couple  of  shells.  We  supposed 
Heintzelman's  troops  were  in  that  direction, 
but  this  undeceived  us. 

Burns' s  briga  ie  was  sent  to  meet  the  attack, 
deploying  a  regiment  to  the  from  at  double  quick 
in  fine  style,  under  a  sharp  artillery  fire.  I  have 
rarely  seen  skirmishers  taKe  position  with  more 
regularity  and  promptness.  When  Burns  neared 
the  wood  it  was  found  he  could  not  cover  the 
allotte  i  space  an  1  the  First  Minnesota  was 
ordered  UP  to  piece  out  the  line.  To  reach  our 
desired  position  we  ha<l  to  cross  open  fields.  I 
recall  that  tiie  sun  was  low  down  and  shone  in 
our  faces.  We  m  >ved  at  double  ouick.  exposed 
to  a  hot  tire  from  the  rebel  batteries,  and  a 
couple  of  our  own  batteries  firing  over  our 
heads  at  an  elevation  calculated  to  just  clear 
them.  How  those  shells  did  screech  as  they  hus- 
tled past  us.  They  seemed  hot  enough  to 
scorch.  It  was  very  trying  to  the  nerves.  Cross- 


228 


STORIES    OF   OUR   SOLDIERS. 


ag  the  field  and  a  hollow  at  a  ran,  we  "  came 
up  standing"  at  the  edge  of  the  woods. 

Some  of  the  boys  indulged  in  a  yell.  "  just  to 
clear  their  throats."  ami  were  answered  by  tne 
rebels,  who  were  advancing  through  the  wood. 
The  skirinisners  wer  *  pushed  into  the  woods, 
but  ha<l  not  gone  100  yaris  before  they  were 
greete  I  by  a  wild  yell  and  a  volley  that  sent 
them  flying  back  uoon  us.  The  brush  com- 
pletely hid  them  from  our  yiew.  but  as  the 
bullets  came  with  vicious,  spiteful  force  out  of 
the  woods  it  was  evident  that  they  were  in  easy 
range.  We  leveled  our  rifles  into  the  woo  Is, 
an  i,  in  the  "poetical  language"  of  Captain  Davis, 
"blazed  away."  On  came  a  mass  of  the  rebels 
yelling  and  firing,  and  the  regiment  on  our 
right,  an< I  i  believe  one  other,  was  forced  back- 
ward to  the  hollow. 

Lieut.  Col  Miller,  who  commanded  us  that  day 
—Col.  Alf .  bully  taking  the  brigade— first  excited 
ridicule  by  rushing  up  to  Gen.  Hums  and  calling 
out,  "  They  are  Hanking  us.  General  I  ihey  are 
doing  it  now.  General  I  They  won  our  admira- 
tion and  respect  by  marching  on  foot  close  in 
the  rear  of  the  hard  pressed  right  wing  of  the 
regiment  and  by  command  and  entreaty  Kept  us 
to  the  line 

Once  or  twice  a  cheer  that  sounded  faint  and 
far  off  in  the  confusion  of  the  fight  had  reached 
our  ears  from  the  hollow  behind  us  In  a  hasty 
glance  in  that  direction  nothing  could  be  seen 
through  the  smoke  and  gathering  darkness,  save 
the  lurid  flash  of  our  batteries  on  the  hill,  which 
were  still  throwing  shells  over  our  heads— and 
for  that  matter  the  rebel  heads,  too.  '1  he  rebels 
came  swinging  around  our  right,  enveloping  us 
front  and  flank  in  a  deadly  fire.  In  another  mo- 
ment we  must  retreat  or  be  annihilated. 

But  hark  1  The  Cheering  is  hear.  I  once  more 
close  behind  us.  A  good,  open-mouthed,  ring- 
ing hurrah.  No  music  ever  soun  led  more 
melodious  than  that  lou'l,  defiant  cheer  to  our 
battle-stunned  ears.  Then  trie  Fifteenth 
Massachusetts  pressed  close  up  behind  us 
•homing.  "  We  are  with  you.  Minnesota." 
Pushing  to  the  front  and  extending  to  the 
right  they  opened  a  rapid  fire,  which  soon 
drove  back  the  rebels,  who  had  passed  our 
right,  and  the  whole  rebel  line  retreated 
rapidly  into  the  woods. 


Theie.  on  the  smoking  field,  with  the  wild 
refrain  of  the  battle  stUl  ringing  in  their  ears, 
the  "  boys  "  of  the  First  Minnesota  and  Fif- 
teenth Massachusetts  mingled  together,  shak- 
ing each  other's  hands,  and  united  in  a  good 
old  Union  hurrah.  This  fight,  though  short, 
was  really  a  hotly  contested  affair.  Company  F, 
the  rikrht  flanK  company,  losing  nineteen  men 
killed  and  woun  led  out  of  forty-one  engaged. 
One  of  these,  who  died  of  wounds  at  Seminary 
hospital,  formerly  lived,  or  had  relatives,  at 
Ipswich,  Mass.  His  name  was  Edward  E. 
Davis,  Company  F,  First  Minnesota. 

Regiments,  like  individuals,  formed  strong 
attachments  for  one  another.  Perhaps  there 
were  no  two  regiments  more  closely  united  than 
the  First  Minnesota  and  tue  Fifteenth  Massa- 
chusetts. So  long  as  they  kept  their  organiza- 
tions—in  camp,  on  the  march  and  in  nattle— 
they  stood  loyally  and  faithfully  together. 

This  was  only  one  of  several  Incidents  in  their 
military  life  lhat  tended  to  unite  them  the 
more  closely.  Not  the  least  interesting  one, 
perhaps,  was  on  that  bleak  morning  in  Febru- 
ary. '64.  when  the  "Old  First"  started  home  on 
its  "veteran  furlough." 

It  had  to  leave  the  camp  near  Stevensburg, 
Va.,  long  before  daylight,  but  we  found  the 
Fifteenth  in  line  with  open  ranks  to  bid  us  good- 
by.  No  more  sincere  or  kinder  wishes  01  more 
fervent  "God  bless  comrades"  were  ever 
uttered  by  manly  lips  to  man  than  came  to 
us  from  out  the  darkness  of  that  winter 
morning  as  we  marched  out  of  camp. 
They  gav«  us  hearty  cheers  "and 
the  band  played,"  not  "Annie  Rooney," 
but  "  Auld  Lang  Syne."  As  we  marched  to  the 
cars  we  heard  voices  singing  "Shall  old  com- 
panions be  forgot?"  They  have  not  been  for- 
gotten. Whenever  two  men  of  those  regiments 
meet  there  is  a  hearty,  enthusiastic  meeting. 
There  was  a  notable  meeting  of  the  survivors 
of  the  Fifteenth  and  a  tew  fragments  of  the 
First  in  one  of  the  public  schoo  buildings  in 
Boston  in  1890.  which  showed  that  the  memo- 
ries and  feelings  of  the  old  days  were  still  iresb 
and  vigorous  after  a  quarter  of  a  century. 

J.  A.  \V  i  LIGHT. 

Beverly. 


WHY    THEY    DISLIKED    GENERAL    BUTLER. 


i.  the  writer  of  the  following  article  was  a  member  ot 
the  New  Bedford  City  Guards.  For  the  accuracy  of  tils 
statements,  he  refers  to  Col.  1.  C.  Hart  and  Mr.  J.  B. 
Hathaway.  City  Treasurer  of  New  Bedford,  both  of  whom 
were  members  of  his  old  company. ) 

To  the  Editor  of  the  Boston  Journal . 
Tour  articles  on  the  burning  of  Hampton  and 


death  of  Gen.  Butler  bring  to  mind  an  incident 
which  you  may  think  worth  printing. 

In  July.  1861.  the  Third  and  Fourth  Regi 
ments,  Massachusetts  Infantry,  marc  lied  from 
Hampton,  whicli  we  did  not  burn,  to  Fortress 
Monroe,  as  our  three  months'  service  was- 
ended.  We  moved  into  the  fortress  and  donned 
out  gray  coats,  which  had  been  stored  while  W» 
wore  fatigue  suits.  Ever  so  many  rows  of  brass> 


THE    YOUNGEST    OFFICER    IN   THE    WAR. 


229 


buttons  and  epaulets,  weighing  nearly  three 
pounds  adorned  these  coats,  bat  our  bear  skin 
caps  bad  been  sent  home.  Our  muskets  and 
equipments,  of  which  we  were  very  i-roud, 
were  in  the  best  condition.  Much  of 
The  work  of  polishing  was  done,  like  some  of 
Mark  Tw. tin's  work,  by  an  "agent,"  saH  agent 
toeing  some  private  amonsr  the  "regulars  '  who 
for  $1  polished  our  belongings,  so  that  we 
passed  first-class  "inspection.  With  our  gay 
aniiorms  and  shining  Springfield  muskets  we 
were  drawn  up  in  line  on  the  parade  ground, 
ordered  to  "stack  arms,  right  flank,  right  face. 
forwari1'  On  we  moved,  never  again  to  see 
those  beloved  "Soringtields,"  which  we 
hoped  to  have  mounted  in  gold  and  silver,  suit- 
ably inscribed  and  keut  for  our  grand-children. 


We  marched  to  a  remote  part  of  the  fortress, 
where  we  were  armed  with  old.  dull,  bine  Kn- 
fieid  rides  to  carry  on  our  triumphant  march 
home  L)o  you  think  we  cherished  those  rides? 
Can  you  not  believe  every  man  abased  his  gan 
and  left  it  on  the  ground  to  rust? 

Can  you  wonder  that  we  hated  "Old  But- 
ler?' 

Most  of  us  lived  to  be  older  and  better  sol- 
diers realizing  that  those  old  blue  rides  were 
good  enou-cn  for  militia  men  to  march  home 
with,  and  the  Springfield*  were  nee  led  by  those 
who  came  to  fill  our  place.  For  one  I  forgave 
the  General  years  ago. 

CHARLES  B   WALKER. 

Brandon,  V- 


THE  YOUNGEST  OFFICER  IN  THE  WAR. 


[Hie  statement  prefacing  Ills  very  Interesting  paper 
upon  the  Siege  of  Charleston  by  CoL  Elbridge  J.  Copp( 
«f  the  Third  New  Hampshire  Volunteers,  which  declares 
that  he  was  the  youngest  commissioned  officer  in  the  ser- 
vice, because  of  his  receiving  his  first  commission  as  Ad- 
jutant of  ins  regiment  in  1863  at  the  age  of  18,  aroused 
Col.  Gardner  C.  Hawkins,  of  the  old  Third  and  Fourth 
Vermont  Regiments,  to  ask  for  specific  data,  his  own 
record  being  so  nearly  parallel. 

Colonel  Hawkins  wrote :  "  I  was  18  years  old,  Feb. 
11,  '64.  I  was  commissioned  Second  Lieutenant,  Third 
Vermont  Volunteers,  Oct.  18,  '64,  ana  while  awaiting 
muster  was  at  once  ordered  to  duty,  and  about  one 
month  after  receiving  my  commission  I  was  transferred 
to  the  Fourth  Vermont  Volunteers  as  Adjutant,  and 
remained  there  through  subsequent  promotions  until  I 
was  wounded,  April  2,  '65. 

"It  is  acknowledged  by  the  Adjutant  General  of  Ver- 
mont that  I  am  the  youngest  officer  who  ever  served  in 
Vermont  troops.  1  have  never  claimed  to  be  the  youngest 
In  the  entire  army,  but  have  always  felt  that  perhaps  I 
was '  very  near  it.' " 

Whereupon  Colonel  Albert  Clarke,  the  well-known 
Bostonian  and  Secretary  of  the  Home  Market  Club,  set 
all  claims  at  rest  in  the  following  letter,  by  citing  Lieuten- 
ant Charles  W.  Randall  of  the  Vermont  line  as  having 
been  still  younger  than  either  of  the  prior  claimants,  be- 
ing but  16  when  first  commissioned.  Col.  Hawkins  at 
once  replied,  gracefully  yielding  any  claim  he  might  have 
bad  with  pride,  however,  that  so  far  as  Vermont  was  con- 
cerned it  was  to  one  of  her  sons. 

He  declared  that  ••  after  reading  the  article  of  Col. 
Clarke  it  would  seem  that  CoL  Copp  and  myself  must 
now  limit  our  claims  as  to  which  Is  the  youngest  'surviv- 
ing'officer,  unless  the  Journal,  In  the  great  and  good 
work  that  it  is  doing  by  these  war  articles,  shall  bring  out 
another  deserving  claimant  for  this  honor." 

As  Randall  is  dead,  the  claim  of  the  youngest  living 
commissioned  officer  is  open.] 

Without  wishing  to  detract  in  the  least  from 
the  honor  claimed  respectively  by  CoL  E.  J. 
CODD  of  NPW  Hampshire  and  Col.  Gardner  C. 
Hawkins  of  Boston  of  having  been  the  youngest 


commissioned  officer  in  the  United  States  Army 
during  tbe  Civil  War.  1  yet  wish  to  lo  justice  to 
a  gailant  young  man  who  was  long  since  trans- 
ferred to  tne  army  over  the  river.  I  refer  to 
Lieutenant  Charles  W.  Randall,  son  of  Colonel 
Francis  V.  Randall,  of  the  Thirteenth  and 
Seventeenth  Vermont  Regiments  oi  infantry. 
Colonel  Hawkins  says  he  was  commissioned 
when  he  was  18,  and  he  thinks  he  was  younger 
than  Colonel  Copp.  Bat  young  Randall  was 
commissioned  Second  Lieutenant  of  Comoanv 
G.  Thirteenth  Vermont,  when  lie  was  only  16, 
and  he  made  a  good  officer.  Let  me  relate  an 
incident  in  proof. 

At  Gettysburg,  near  night  of  the  second  day, 
when  uis  company,  with  others,  was  charging 
to  retake  a  batiery.  Lieutenant  Randall  asked 
permission  of  his  company  commander  to  go 
to  nis  father,  wiio  appeared  to  have  neen  shot 
The  leave  was  granted,  and  he  started 
on  a  run,  but  in  a  moment  came  back  almost 
breathless  as  he  overtook  the  line,  but  smiling, 
and  said  it  was  not  the  Colone  ,  but  his  horse, 
that  was  shot,  and  in  a  moment  more  the 
Colonel  himself,  who  had  cut  loo-e  from  his 
fallen  horse,  overtook  the  line  and  placed  him- 
self in  front  of  the  colors  The  success  of  that 
charge  is  a  matter  of  history,  likewise  the  one 
of  the  next  day  in  repulsing  Pickett.  in  which 
also  botn  the  fathe..  and  son  bore  a  gailant  part. 

Subsequently,  when  young  Randall  was  a 
Lieutenant  in  the  Seventeenth  Vermont,  his 
health  became  permanently  impaired  uy  small- 
pox, which  it  was  believed  he  took 
from  In  looted  clothing,  having  pur- 
chased in  Washington  some  undergarm  Mits 
at  a  store  which  afterward  came  under 
suspicion  as  a  place  of  consignment  under  the 
infection  <cheme  suggested  by  Dr.  Blackburn 
of  Kentucky.  But,  whatever  the  origin,  the 
disease  destroyed  his  blood,  and  shorly  after 
the  war  he  died  of  quick  consumption.  T  count 
it  my  good  fortune  to  have  neen  his  superior 
officer,  and  to  be  now  the  friend  and  comrade 
of  the  next  youngest  officer.  Col.  Hawkins. 

ALBERT  CLAHKK. 

Boston. 


DR,  GREEN'S  NARRATIVE. 


Or.  Samufii  A.  Green  g  long  continued  ana  efficient 
service  In  the  army  as  old  soldiers  know  brought  turn 
into  many  perilous  positions,  but  he  was  unfaltering  in 
Us  patriotic  work,  lie  was  31  rears  of  age  when  the 
war  broke  out.  having  been  born  in  Oroton  March  16. 
1830  His  earl;  education  was  obtained  at  Lawrence 
Academy  In  Groton.  He  was  graduated  at  Harvard  In 
1851.  and  received  his  medical  decree  three  vears  later. 
after  which  be  spent  several  years  in  Europe.  Un  his 
return  he  began  practice  in  Boston  and  became  one  of 
the  district  physicians  of  the  city  dispensary 

On  May  19. 1853.  he  was  appointed  by  Governor  Banks 
Sureeon  of  the  Second  Militia  Regiment.  At  the  begin- 
oing  of  the  Civil  War  he  was  commissioned  Assistant 
Surgeon  of  the  First  Massachusetts  Regiment  of  Volun- 
teers, and  was  the  first  medical  officer  from  the  state 
mustered  in  for  three  years  service.  He  was  promoted  to 
the  surgeoncy  ot  the  r«renty.fourth  Massachusetts 
Regiment  on  Sept.  2,  1861.  where  he  remained 
until  Nov  2,  1864,  serving  In  the  meanwhile  on 
the  staff  of  various  general  officers.  lie  had 
charge  of  the  hospital  ship  Recruit  In  the  Biirnside 
expedition  to  Roanoke  Island,  of  the  hovn-.al  ship 
Cosmopolitan  on  the  coast  of  South  Carolina,  and 
during  the  siege  of  Port  Wagner  was  chief  medical  of- 
ficer on  Moon's  Island.  For  gallant  and  distinguished 
services  In  the  field  in  1864  he  was  brevetted  Lieutenant 
Colonel  of  Volunteers.  Dr.  Green  organized  ••  Roanoke 
Cemetery  "  in  the  winter  of  1862.  which  was  one  of  the 
first  regular  buna)  places  for  national  soldiers  estab 
Usbed  during  the  rebellion. 

After  the  close  of  the  war  Dr.  Green  was  from  1865 
until  1872  Superintendent  of  the  Boston  Dispensary,  a 
member  of  the  Boston  School  Board.  186IV62  and  1866- 
T2 .  a  Trustee  of  the  Public  Library,  1868-'78.  and  Act- 
tag  Librarian  from  October,  1877,  to  October.  1878.  In 
1870  Governor  Claflin  appointed  him  one  of  a  commis- 
sion to  care  for  disabled  soldier*.  In  1871  he  became 
City  Physician  of  Boston,  and  retained  the  office  until 
188  J.  He  was  chosen  a  member  of  the  Hoard  of  Experts, 
authorized  by  Congress  In  1878  to  investigate  the  yellow 
fever,  and  In  1882  was  Mayor  of  1  osion.  In  1883  be  was 
elected  a  Trustee  of  the  Peabody  educational  fund,  as  well 
M  the  Secretary  of  the  board,  and  from  1835  to  1888  was 


the  acting  general  agent.  Dr.  Green  has  for  21  years  been 
Librarian  of  the  Massachusetts  Historical  Society,  and  he 
has  published  a  large  number  of  valuable  books  upon 
Historical  subjects. 

The  French  •  have  a  saying  that  there  ii 
nothing  more  probable  than  the  improbable: 
and  events  often  seem  to  Drove  the  paradox. 
Truth  is  frequently  stranger  than  fiction, 
ana  many  incidents  during  the  War  of  the 
Rebellion  might  be  given  on  each  side 
in  proof  of  the  statement.  1  am  about  to  relate  a 
story  with  many  unlikely  elements,  which  hap. 
pened  in  connection  with  the  Twenty-fourth 
Massachusetts  Volunteers  daring  their  service 
at  the  South. 

In  the  autumn  of  1861  a  Boston  boy.  Frank 
McEihenny  by  name,  enlisted  in  the  Twenty- 
fourth  Regiment,  and  was  dulv  mustered  on 
Nov  24.  when  he  was  assigned  to  F  Company. 
His  age  was  18  years,  and  his  mother  was 
a  widow.  His  early  advantages  had  been  few, 
and  he  might  have  been  considered  a  fair  speci- 
men of  a  young  North  End  rough.  During 
the  early  part  of  his  enlistment  he 
experienced  the  usual  lot  that  falls 
to  a  private  soldier,  but  a  little  later  he  began 
to  show  a  spirit  of  insubordination  which  led 
him  to  his  miserable  end.  In  the  summer  of 
1862.  while  the  regiment  was  stationed  at  .New- 
bern.  North  Carolina,  he  was  found  guilty  of 
some  offence  by  a  court  martial  and  sentenced 
to  imprisonment  in  Fort  Macon,  near  Beaufort, 
N.  C..  for  the  remainder  ot  the  war.  The  fort 
is  situated  at  one  end  of  a  very  long 
and  narrow  island,  so  characteristic  of  that 
coast,  and  separated  from  the  main  land 
by  the  "swash;"  and  here  Private  McEihenny 
was  imprisoned.  In  the  course  of  a  few  weeks, 
amid  the  scenes  of  other  exciting  events,  the 
affair  ceased  to  be  talked  about,  and  passed  en- 


STORIES   OF    OUR    SOLDIERS. 


tirelv  out  ot  mind.  Soon  afterward  it  was 
reported  in  camp  that  McElhenny  had  escaped 
from  his  place  of  confinement,  bat  ihe  rumor 
produced  scarcely  a  ripple,  so  thoroughly  bad 
the  whole  matter  been  forgotten. 

The  scene  now  changes  irom  North  Carolina 
to  Virginia,  and  let  us  pass  over  nearly  two 
years. 

One  hot  and  sultry  afternoon  in  the  month  of 
August,  1864,  when  the  picket  line  of  tbe  Union 
forces  in  iroin  of  Richmond,  twisting  around 
Petersburg  and  requiring  a  small  army 
for  jjaily  duty,  extended  over  a  distance 
of  nearly  35  miles,  a  man  in  reuel 
uniform  was  seen  running  toward  the  Federal 
lines.  At  that  point  the  distance  between  the 
two  lines  was  very  short,  within  speak- 
ing distance,  though  it  varied  in  different 
places.  It  was  late  in  the  day,  and 
tbe  deserting  soldier  reached  the  post 
about  ten  minutes  betore  the  time  when  the 
picket  guard  was  soon  to  oe  relieved.  Naturally 
lie  was  soon  surrounded  by  men  anxious  to 
"  buzz "  him,  and  learu  the  latest  new*  from 
the  otner  side. 

Among  the  first  to  accost  him  was  a  member 
of  Company  F,  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts 
Yoluuteers.  u  ho  approached  and  at  once  said, 
'How  are  you,  Frank?  " 

1  he  rebel  soldier,  without  being  abashed,  im- 
mediately replied:  "My  name  isn't  Frank;" 
whica  for  the  instant  quietly  allayed  any  sus- 
picion. 

A  minute  later  a  drummer  boy,  who  belonged 
to  the  same  company,  came  up  and  at  once 
asserted  tiie  identity  of  the  deserter  with 
his  old  comrade,  when  McElbenny,  in 
camp  parlance,  gave  the  whole  thing:  away 
and  acKnowledged  tbe  fact.  Of  course  he 
was  taken  at  once  to  tbe  rear  and  delivered 
ever  to  the  officer  in  charge  of  the  provost 
guard-  The  news  spread  li*e  wild-tire  turough 
the  camp  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Regiment, 
and  created  a  good  deal  of  excitement. 
Tbe  next  da;  he  was  sent  to  Fort 
Monroe,  where  by  a  court  martial  he 
was  tried  as  a  deserter  from  tbe 
Union  army  and  found  guilty  and  sentenced  to 
be  shot.  The  place  ot  execution  was  decreed 
near  the  encampment  of  the  brigade  to  which 
his  regiment  belonged,  then  at  Deep  Bottom,  ou 
the  north  side  ot  James  Kiver.  Alter 
the  trial  he  Was  at  once  sent  back  to 
his  regimental  camp,  where,  securely  guarded, 
he  passed  a  night,  and  on  the  next  day  the 
sentence  was  carried  out,  within  a  week  of  his 
canture,  in  the  presence  of  the  brigade. 

While  under  guard  in  camp  1  had  au  inter- 
view with  the  unfortunate  man,  and  he  told  me 
that  after  escaping  from  Fort  Macon  and  pro- 
ceeding to  the  southern  end  ot  the  narrow 
island  he  swam  across  to  the  main 


land,  and  marie  nis  way  to  Raleigh,  where  for  a 
short  time  he  worked  in  a  cobbler's  shop. 
Findin.:  this  mode  of  life  rather  tame,  afte  his 
army  experienc  •.  he  lett  for  Richmond,  where 
he  enliste  I,  under  an  assumed  name,  in  a  com- 
pany of  heavy  artillery.  Again  tiring  of  mili- 
tary discipline  he  ma  le  tin  his  mind  again  to 
desert,  knowing  that  tne  National  Government 
hail  offered  to  send  all  de>erter*  from  the  rebel 
army  to  any  place  in  the  North,  where  they 
wishe  1  to  go.  and  he  intended  to  avail  himself 
Of  the  offer. 

If  he  had  come  into  our  lines  on  either  of  the 
two  preceding  days,  or  on  either  of  the  two 
followin-t.  he  would  not  have  been  recog- 
nized by  any  old  comrade,  as  the  Twenty- 
fourth  Regiment  went  on  picket  duty  only 
once  in  three  days.  If  he'  had  come 
into  our  lines  ten  minutes  later  the  Twenty- 
fourth  would  have  >  een  relieved,  an  I  another 
regiment  stationed  in  its  placa  Even  on  the 
day  when  he  deserted  Irom  the  rebels,  if  he 
had  escaped  to  any  other  post,  he  would  have 
gone  among  strangers  and  would  have  passed 
unrecognized.  As  it  was,  along  a  picket  line  of 
nearly  36  miles,  where  there  were  many  hun- 
dred costs,  he  siruc  <  the  identical  post  manned 
by  his  old  company,  which  ten  minutes  later 
was  manned  by  soMiers  from  another  regi- 
ment, and  took  the  one  day  in  three 
when  that  combination  of  circumstances 
was  possible.  In  the  doctrine  of  chances  every- 
thing was  in  his  favor,  ami  yet  he  lost.  It  seems 
as  if  keen-eyed  justice  on  that  occasion  had 
landed  on  the  ooiir  of  a  needle. 

It  belonged  to  me.  in  an  official  capacity,  to 
be  present  at  his  execution ;  and  I  pitied  the 
poor  wretch  from  the  bottom  of  my 
heart.  As  he  stood  near  his  coffin  by 
the  open  grave,  just  ready  to  receive 
it.  he  nodded  to  me  very  familiarly,  as 
if  we  were  soon  going  to  meet  again,  althougQ 
he  was  then  tottering  on  the  verge  of  eternity. 
In  colloquial  language,  he  died  "game,"  but 
for  all  that  he  was  utterly  unfit  to  enter  that 
awful  presence  about  which  we  know  uoihiuar 
except  through  faith.  He  never  knew — and  for 
that  matter,  no  one  else  in  the  camp — 
that  in  the  forenoon  of  that  warm  day 
(Monday,  Aug.  8.)  1  rode  seven  miles  to  the 
Point  of  Rocks,  where  were  the  headquarters  of 
Gen.  Butier.  then  in  command  of  the  Army  of 
the  James,  in  order  to  intercede  for  him  and 
secure  a  commutation  of  his  sentence;  but  the 
effort  was  of  no  avail. 

This  is  a  simple  statement  of  the  episode,  so 
far  as  I  now  recollect  it,  correct  iu  the  main,  but 
perhaps  inaccurate  in  the  details,  as  1  depend 
upon  my  memory  for  the  facts. 

SAMUEL  A.  GREEN. 
Formerly  Surgeon  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts 

Volunteers. 


MCELHENNY'S  COURT  MARTIAL. 


233 


McELHENNY'S    COURT    MARTIAL. 


On  Jane  3, 1864,  I  was  with  my  regiment,  the 
old  Twenty-thir  i  Massachusetts,  and  of  the  vet- 
eran "Re. I  Star  Brigade."  in  that  terrible  battle 
of  Cold  Harbor,  Va.,  where  I  received  injuries 
•which  caused  my  neinsr  sent  to  the  hospital  at 
Fortress  Monroe.  Va.  Not  being  in  a  condition 
fit  for  active  duty  with  my  regiment,  but 
able  to  'o  item  work,  I  was  detailed  for  duty  as 
&  member  of  a  gener  U  court-martial. 

The  following  officers  were  detailed  for  the 
•court:  Brig.  Gen.  Ed  war!  W.  Hinks.  Col.  A.  A. 
Rand,  Major  I).  J.  Preston,  Capt.  Samuel  Haz- 
ard, Capt  Wm.  N.  Rogers,  First  Lieut.  G  A. 
Cook,  First  Lieut.  F.  H.  Gould.  First  Lieut.  J.  L. 
Sherman.  Second  Lieut  Rufus  E.  Gales,  Second 
Lieut.  Amos  L.  Keables.  Major  J.  L.  Stackpole 
was  Judge  Advocate. 

On  the  day  designated  the  members  of  the 
court  assembled  in  Carroll  Hall.  Fortress  Mon- 
roe, it  being  the  room  where  Jefferson  Davis, 
President  of  the  defunct  Confederacy,  was 
confined  while  held  as  a  prisoner  of  war.  Col. 
Horace  Sanders  of  the  Nineteenth  Wisconsin 
Volunteers  reported  in  nlace  of  Brig.  Gen. 
Hincks.  and  Capt.  Daniel  S.  Griffin  of  the  One 
Hundred  and  Forty-second  New  York  Volun- 
teers was  also  a  member.  Col.  Sanders  being 
the  senior  officer,  was  President  of  the  court, 
and  acted  as  such  until  about  AUK.  15.  when  he 
retired  from  the  court,  having  receive  1  from 
Gen.  Butler  an  appointment  as  Provost  Marshal 
of  Norfolk,  Va.  On  the  retirement  of  Colonel 
Sanders.  Col.  A.  A.  Rand  oi  the  Fourth  Massa- 
chusetts Cavalry  became  the  Presi  lent.  Well 
do  I  remember  the  case  of  that  poor  unfortunate 
boy,  Frank  McElhenny.  Company  F,  Twenty- 
fourtli  Massachusetts. 

Dr.  Green  I  well  remember.  He  was  loved 
and  honored,  not  only  by  the  members  of 
his  own  regiment,  but  by  all  of  those  who 
ever  met  him.  Such  men  as  Dr.  Green, 
Dr  Rice  of  the  Twenty-fifth  Massachusetts, 
Dr.  Otis  of  the  Twenty-seventh  Massachu- 
setts and  our  own  surgeon,  father  as  he  was  to 
us  all.  Dr.  Derby  of  the  Twenty-third  Massachu- 
setts, will  ever  be  remembere  i  by  the  bovs  of  the 
Burnside  Expedition  as  men  skilled  in  their 
profession,  kind  in  their  every  act,  even  anxi- 
ous to  relieve  the  suffering  of  tho.*e  wnocnme 
under  their  charge  and  truly  loyal  to  their 
Country. 

Dr.  Green  has  told  a  truthful  story  of  the  life 
of  McElhenny  while  in  the  army.  I  think  it 
was  on  Kriday,  Aug.  5,  1864,  toe  court-martial 
assembled,  and  this  poor  boy  was  brought  be- 
fore us  for  his  trial  for  desertion  to  the  enemy. 
The  orders  from  General  Butler  were  to  try 
Frank  McElhenny  and  return  him  to  the  front 
Without  delav.  His  trial  was  a  siiort  one.  The 
evidence  against  him  was  too  strong  to  be 
doubted.  He  was  bound  to  die  "game," 
ana  when  asked  if  he  had  anything  to  say  he 
replied:  "No,  do  what  you  can  with  me."  He 
was  found  guilty  and  sentenced  by  the  court  to 
be  shot  He  was  returned  to  the  front  (Ber- 
muda Hundred)  the  next  day.  and  on  Monday, 
August  8.  1884.  he  gave  up  his  young  life, 


shot  by  a  detail  from  his  old  regiment 
and  his  early  comrades.  Sad  indeed  was  his 
end.  The  last  case  that  I  remember  that  came 
before  our  court  was  that  ot  a  rebel  officer 
who  ha  I  been  captured  inside  the  Union  lines. 
It  was  by  an  order  from  Gen.  Butler  tnat  he  was 
to  be  tried  as  a  spy  oy  our  court.  I  think  the 
trial  was  on  or  about  August  15,  1864.  Col, 
Sanders  was  the  President  of  the  court  We 
heard  the  evidence  presented,  found  ihe  pris- 
oner guilty  and  sentenced  him  to  ue  hanged  07 
the  neck  until  dead.  Before  taking  the  vote, 
Col.  Sanders  had  much  to  say  relative  to  our 
rights  to  try  the  case.  The  particular  grouud 
which  be  assumed  I  cannot  remember,  but  1  do 
rememoer  that  there  was  no  member  ot  the 
court  that  agreed  with  him. 

Now  comes  the  funny  part  of  all.  Whatever 
became  oi  that  "reu"  1  do  not  know,  but  1  do 
know  that  our  term  of  service  as  members  of 
that  court-martial  was  cut  mighty  short.  The 
first  business  that  was  brought  before  us  by  tbe 
Judge  Advocate  when  the  court  met  the  next 
day  was  bis  statement  that  after  tbe  adjourn* 
ment  of  the  court  the  day  be  lore 
Col.  Sanders,  a  member  and  Pn-si  tent 
of  the  court,  handed  to  him  a  written 
document,  which  contained  the  opinion 
wliicn  he  hau  stated  to  the  court  while  it  was  in 
secret  session,  and  requested  him  to  put  it  with 
the  records  of  the  trial  of  the  rebel  officer  and 
have  the  same  sent  to  Gen,  Butler.  This  re- 
quest of  CoL  Sanders  was  refused  by  the  Judge 
Advocate,  and  he  laid  the  matter  before  the 
court  for  their  action.  This  ac. ion  on  tue  part 
of  a  member  of  a  court-martial  was  in  direct 
violation  of  the  69th  Article  of  War,  whereby 
every  member  of  a  court-martial,  before  the 
trial  of  each  case,  has  administered  to  him  the 
folio  wing  oath: 

"  You,  A.  B.,  do  swear  that  you  will  well  and 
truly  try  and  determine,  according  to  evidence. 
the  matter  now  nefore  you,  between  the  United 
States  of  America  and  the  prisoner  to  De  tried, 
and  that  you  will  <iuly  administer  justice,  ac- 
cording to  the  provisions  of '  an  act  estauii.shine 
rules  and  articles  for  the  government  of  the 
armies  of  the  United  States,'  without  partiality, 
favor,  or  affection,  and  if  any  dou.it  should 
arise,  not  explained  by  said  articles,  according 
to  your  conscience,  the  best  of  your  understand- 
ing, and  the  customs  ot  war  in  like  cases;  and 
you  do  further  swear  that  you  will  not  di- 
vulge the  sentence  of  tbe  court  until 
it  shall  be  published  by  the  proper  au- 
thority; neither  will  you  disclose  or  discover 
the  vote  or  opinion  of  any  particular  member  of 
the  court-martial,  nn  less  required  to  give  evi- 
dence thereof,  as  a  witness,  by  a  court  of  jus- 
tice, in  a  due  course  of  law.  So  help  you  God," 

The  Judge  Advocate  also  has  an  oath  admin- 
istered to  him,  as  follows: 

"You,  A.  r$..  do  swear,  that  you  will  not  dis- 
close or  discover  the  vote  or  opinion  of  any 
particular  member  of  the  court-martial,  unless 
required  to  give  evidence  thereof,  as  a  witness, 
by  a  court  of  justice,  in  duo  course  of  law ;  nor 


234 


STORIES    OF    OUR    SOLDIERS. 


divulge  the  sentence  of  the  court  to  any  but 
the  proper  authority,  until  it  shall  be  duly  dis- 
closed ny  the  same.  So  nelu  you  God." 

Coi.  Sanders,  as  stated,  having  gone  to  other 
duties.  Col.  Kand  became  the  President  of  the 
court-martial.  The  Judge  Advocate  having 
fully  stated  the  matter,  tlie  court  immediately 
proceeded  to  discuss  the  ca*e.  an  1  by  a  unani- 
mous vote  decide  i  that  the  written  statement 
from  CoL  Sanders  could  not  be  arhxe  i  to  the 
records,  for  the  reason  that  it  woul  i  be  a  vio- 
lation of  our  oath  as  members  of  a  court-mar- 
tial. The  Judge  Advocate  reported  our  action 
to  Gen.  Butler,  with  the  result  that  tlie  next 
day  Gen.  butler  sent  an  order  for  the  court  "  to 
affix  the  opinion  delivered  in  secret  -e-i- 
Bion  by  Col.  Sanders  to  the  records,  and 
return  them  to  his  headquarters  without 
delay.  This  order  of  General  Butler  was  not 
complied  with,  the  members  of  the  court  voting 
unanimously,  "That  th«  opinion  of  Colonel 
Sanders  could  not  e  affixed  to  the  records." 
Ihe  Jud^e  Advocate  reported  our  action  to 
General  Butler,  which  brought  from  him  a 
more  positive  order,  as  follows: 

"You  will  affix  the  opinion  of  Colonel  San- 
ders to  the  records,  and  return  them  to  their 
headquarters,  without  delay,  without  comment 
and  refuse  at  your  peril." 

The  court,  after  due  and  careful  deliberation, 
vote  i  unanimously,  "That,  although  threit- 
ened  i  y  the  Commanding  General  of  the  De- 
partment, the  court  would  st.ill  refuse  to  affix 
gie  opinion  of  Colonel  Sanders  to  the  recor  is." 
very  member  felt  that  the  stand  we  had 
taken  was  right.  It  was  certainly  a  defiant 
one.  We  knew  we  had  a  hard  man  in  General 
Butler  to  co;>e  with,  and  we  awaited  the  result 
with  anxious  hearts. 

After  the  court  had  adjourned,  I  went  with 
other  officers  to  Norfolk  to  spend  the  night,  as 
we  had  done  many  time-  aurio;  the  se  siou  of 
the  court.  I  hid  just  come  from  mv  supper  at 
tne  National  Hotel  when  1  was  met  ny  an 
officer,  who  informed  me  that  an  officer  of 
Gen.  Butler's  staff  was  in  the  city  for  the  pur- 
pose of  placing  under  arrest  the  members  of 
the  court-martial,  and  that  if  I  ha<i  any  en- 
gaerement  for  the  evening  I  h  \d  better  go  out 
before  he  found  me.  1  thanked  my  brother 
officer  for  the  information  and  went  out 
immediately,  passing  first  outside  the 
aoor  the  staff  officer  who  was 
looking  lor  ma  I  returned  to  the  hotel  about 
11  o'clock  P.  M.  and  retired.  1  ha  !  not  been  in 
bed  but  a  short  time  when  I  heard  a  knock  at 
my  door,  and  was  informed  that  a  gentleman 
wanted  to  see  me  in  the  office.  I  got  up  and 
dressed,  feelinu:  that  I  was  to  meet  an  arrest. 
On  reaching  the  office  I  met  Captain  Puffer  of 
General  Butler's  staff,  who  informed  me  that  I 
must  consider  mysel  I  under  arrest,  and  to  re- 
port to  him  at  8  o'clock  the  next  morning  at  the 
boat  to  go  to  the  front. 

We  did  not  refu  e  to  obey  his  orders.  Every 
officer  reported  to  Caou  Puffer  at  the  appointed 
time,  and  we  were  soon  on  our  way  to  the  front 
Caou  Puffer  we  found  to  De  a  perfect  gentle- 
man, and  he  did  all  in  his  power  for  our  com- 
fort on  the  boat  and  at  headquarters.  Reaching 
Bermuda  Hundred  late  in  the  afternoon,  we 


lound  an  ambulance  ready  to  take  us  to  Gen 
Butler's  camp,  wiiere  on  our  arrival  we  were 
assigned  to  quarters  witii  strict  orders  not  to 
leave  the  limits  of  the  camp.  We  were  all  tired 
and  enjoyed  a  goo  I  nignt's  rest.  The  next 
morning  tlie  battle  opened.  We  were  first  called 
separately  into  the  presence  of  Gen.  Butler. 
Captain  rlaz  ;r  1  was  the  first  one  tostaiM  by 
our  coiors.  ami  manful  y  di  i  he  oso;  hotshot 
flew  thick  and  fast  between  him  and  General 
Butler,  and  he  came  out  under  orders  not  to 
speaK  to  any  oi  us.  It  fell  to  me  to  oe  the  third 
one  to  face  the  music  Upon  entering  the  Gen- 
eral's tent  1  too  A  thi!  position  of  a  soldier  and 
gave  nim  the  proper  salute. 

"Is  this  Lieut.  Sherman?  "  asked  the  General. 

"Yes,  sir."  I  answere  i, 

"  Do  you  belong  to  the  Twenty-third  Massa- 
cnuseus?" 

"1  do,  sir." 

"Are  you  A  ijutant  of  the  regiment?" 

"I  am,  sir." 

"  Wen-  you  a  member  of  a  general  court-mar- 
tial at  Fort  .douroo?" 

"1  was,  sir." 

"Did  you  hear  the  order  read  which  Isent  to 
the  court?  " 

"I  did,  sir." 

"Why  did  you  not  obey  it,  sir?"  he  de- 
man  ted. 

"General.  I  did  not  consider  it  my  duty  to 
obey  it,"  was  the  reuly. 

"Well,  sir,"  he  said,  "had  I  thought  that  you 
Considered  it  your  duty,  you  never  would  have 
come  Here.  L>o  you  consider,  sir,  mat  a  First 
Lieutenant  is  to  command  a  dajor  General  of 
tne  army,  or  that  a  i\t;.jor  General  ol  the  army 
is  to  command  a  First  Lieutenant?  " 

"Genera:,"  1  answered,  "it  is  according  to 
circumstances,  in  thi-.  case  1  uelieved  it  would 
be  a  violation  of  my  oatli  as  a  member  of  tue 
court  martial  to  vote  to  obey  your  order." 

°i  he  General  was  very  pleasant  in  his  talk 
with  me;  perhaps  he  considere  I  my  youtiu 
Alter  telling  uie  a  tunny  story  about  a  cat,  he 
let  me  out,  and  one  after  another  were  called 
before  him  until  lie  nad  he  >r  i  the  plea  of  alL 
Thus  ended  th  -  tight  on  the  skirmish  hue. 

The  remainder  of  the  dav  was  passed  in  such 
amusements  as  we  could  find,  and  at  "taps" 
we  retired  to  our  tents  to  sleep,  or,  perhaps,  to 
wonder  wnat  tlie  morrow  would  bring  forth. 

Early  the  next  morning  we  were  ordered  to 
appear  ueiore  the  General.  On  entering  his 
tent  we  formed  a  semi-circle  about  him  and 
awaited  the  shots  which  ne  was  to  tire  at  us, 
little  knowing  if  we  were  to  be  kil.ed  or 
wounded.  The  General  opened  by  saying: 

"Gentlemen,  ihave  heard  each  of  you  teilyour 
excuses,  and.  as  a  result,  have  or>lere  i  my  Ad- 
jutant General  to  issue  an  order  releasing  you 
from  arrest,  and  ordering  you  to  return  to  your 
regimonis  immediately  for  duty ;  also  that  you 
be  Misqualined  from  sitting  uoon  any  court-mar- 
tial, military  commission,  or  any  detail  wnatso- 
ever,  so  long  as  you  are  in  my  department." 

Capt.  Hazard  asked  the  General  it:  he  issued 
the  order  as  a  punishment. 

"1  do,  >ir,"  replied  tue  General. 

CoL  Rand  then  -aid:  "  General,  in  your  orders 
to  us  you  gave  us  no  chance  for  explanation. 


MCELHENNY'S  COURT  MARTIAL. 


235 


You  ordered  us  to  obey  your  order,  without 
comment  and  to  refuse  at  our  peril." 

"  1  hat  is  false,  sir,  1  never  issued  such  an 
Order."  said  the  General. 

Col.  Rand  io«k  the  order  from  his  pocket,  he 
banded  it  to  the  Generil,  who.  after  reading  it, 
Bai  I  in  a  most  a  i  rry  manner:  "Strange, 
atrang  •.  1  never  ordere  1  such  an  order  to  be 
issued.  Gentlemen,  I  will  give  you  one  hour  to 
make  a  written  statement  of  this  matter;  go  to 
my  tne-s  tent  and  tnepare  it." 

We  now  felt  a  litte  more  easy.  Out  we  were 
still  ail  of  one  miu  i,  and  that  was  never  to  sub- 
mit to  be  punished  fordoing  our  duty,  and  we 
knew  we  were  safe  under  the  65th  article  of 
war,  which  says;  "Wnenevera  general  officer 
Commanding  an  army  shall  be  the  accuser  or 
pro-iecutor  of  any  offloar  in  the  army  01  the 
Unite'i  States,  under  his  command,  the  general 
court-martial  for  the  trial  of  such  officer  shall 
be  appointed  uy  tne  President  of  the  United 
btates." 

General  Butler  had  not  the    power  to  punish 


us.  All  he  could  do  would  be  to  Keep  us  under 
arrest  and  present  charges  ag  tin-it  us  The 
written  statement  was  made  in  lull  an  I  sent  to 
the  General.  In  the  afternoon  General  Butler 
was  seen  to  leave  his  camp,  an  I  it  was  reported 
to  us  that  he  ha  1  been  ordered  to  Gen  ral 
Grant's  headquarters,  whether  on  our  account 
we  know  not,  but  we  do  know  tnat  we  won 
the  battle.  Early  next  morning  we  each  re- 
ceived a  copy  of  an  order  which  released 
us  from  arrest  and  giving  us  until 
August  26  to  report  to  our 
regiments.  L,ieur.  Cook  an  I  myself  imme  li- 
ately  returned  to  Fortress  Monroe,  when  we 
obtained  Irom  Major  Stackpole,  trie  Juct-re  A  1- 
vocale.  vouciiers  for  extra  oay  due  u^  for  51 
days  as  nvm  'er-<  of  the  court-martial,  which 
we  sold  to  a  sutler  for  $60  each.  Th -n  w  •  went 
over  to  Norfolk,  an  I  ait  r  nhanvrin^  my  best 
uniform  for  my  tield  clothes,  ireturnel  to  my 
regimeut  one  day  later. 

JAMES  L.  SHERMAN. 


DOOM    OF   THE    DESERTEK. 


A  PRISONER'S  DIARY. 


[The  -writer  of  this  and  the  two  following  articles,  First 
Lieutenant  Hannibal  A.  Johnson,  Company  B,  Third 
Maine  Infantry,  at  the  beginning  of  the  war  was  a  dry 
goods  salesman  in  his  native  city  of  liallowell.  Scarcely 
had  the  sound  of  the  guns  from  Fort  Sumter  died  away, 
before  this  loyal  son  of  the  Pine  Tree  State  was  making 
strenuous  efforts  to  enlist  in  his  country's  cause.  As  we 
have  before  mentioned,  his  first  attempts  were  fruitless, 
and  it  at  last  became  necessary  for  an  official  letter  to  be 
dictated  from  the  Adjutant  General  of  the  State  to 
Captain  Staples,  the  recruiting  officer,  before  the  appli- 
cant would  be  received.  A  boy  in  years  and  in  physique, 
these  were  the  reasons  given  for  hesitating  to  enroll  him 
among  the  seemingly  stronger  and  willingly  acce  pted  ma- 
terial from  the  Kennebec  Valler.  But  April  27, 1801, 
finds  him  a  regularly  enlisted  soldier  in  the  first  three 
years  regiment  from  the  Dlrlgo  State.  By  slow  promo- 
tion, as  advancement  had  to  be  earned  In  this  gallant  reg- 
iment, originally  commanded  by  Oliver  O.  Howard,  this 
young  soldier  passed  through  all  the  non-commissioned 
grades  of  his  company,  and,  as  Sergeant,  was  given  the 
Kearny  Cross  by  his  Division  General  for  faithful  and 
meritorious  service  after  20  months'  duty  in  the  field. 

When  First  Sergeant  of  his  company,  at  Gettysburg,  he 
was  captured  by  the  enemy.  This  captivity  on  Belle 
Island  was  of  short  duration,  seven  weeks  only.  He  was 
then  paroled,  and  shortly  after  joined  his  regiment  on  the 
field.  In  December,  1863,  he  w.ig  commissioned  as  Sec- 
ond Lieutenant  of  his  company,  and  at  the  Battle  of  the 
Wilderness,  while  acting  as  Adjutant  of  the  regiment,  he 
was  again  taken  prisoner  in  this  manner.  While  the  brig- 
ade, to  which  the  Third  Maine  was  a  part,  was  fiercely 
engaged  with  the  Confederates,  a  report  of  fearful  signifi- 
cance, if  true,  was  brought  to  Col.  Moses  B.  Lakeman, 
the  commander,  from  Gen.  Ward,  by  the  General's  Chief 
of  Staff,  Capt.  Nash.  The  Colonel  was  ordered  to  select  a 
suitable  staff  officer  to  accompany  Hash,  and  ascertain 
the  truth  of  the  report,  and  to  this  day  the  report  has  not 
been  made,  as  both  officers  were  captured  in  trying  to 
faithfully  carry  out  the  orders  or  their  superior  officers. 

The  manner  of  their  capture  will  be  given  later  by  the 
Confederates  whom  these  Federal  officers  struck,  and  as  it 
reflect*  nothing  but  credit  upon  both  "  Tank  "  and  "  J  ohn- 
nie,"  the  entire  correspondence  will  shortly  follow  by  per- 
mtaion  of  Lieut.  Johnson,  who  has  been  honored  by  his 


captors  by  the  return  of  his  sword  taken  by  them  to  bat 
tie.  Twenty-nine  days  after  the  capture  of  Lieut.  Johnson 
the  Third  Maine,  then  at  Cold  Harbor,  left  for  home,  their 
three  years'  service  having  expired.  Nine  mouths  later 
Lieut.  Johnson,  after  passing  this  time  in  Southern  prisons, 
successfully  escaped,  entered  the  Union  lines  Hundreds  of 
miles  from  his  prison,  and  at  last  was  mustered  out  of  ser- 
vice, Jan.  29. 1864.  From  his  long  service  In  the  field, 
and  harder  service  in  rebel  prisons,  he  had  earned  a 
needed  rest  from  military  service,  But  this  was  not  the 
material  the  boy  soldier  is  made  of,  for  after  regaining 
his  lost  strength  and  flesh,  the  last  of  March, 
1865,  found  him  again  at  the  State  Capitol  asking  for  a 
position  at  the  front.  The  Governor  immediately  gr  ve 
him  a  position  in  a  battalion  of  four  companies,  um.  sr 
command  of  Lieutenant  Colonel  Calvin  8.  Brown,  who 
were  just  starting  for  the  front,  as  First  Lieutenant  and 
Acting  Adjutant,  and  thus  he  passed  another  twelve 
months  In  his  country's  service.  This  last  term  of  service 
will  be  referred  to  In  the  diary  of  the  escaped  Union  pris- 
oner. 

Lieut.  Johnson  is  a  member  of  Post  10,  G.  A.  R.,  and 
was  a  member  of  Post  5  for  many  years.  He  is  also  a 
companion  of  the  Military  Order  of  the  Loyal  Legion  of 
Massachusetts,  a  member  of  the  Society  of  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac,  a  Royal  Arch  Mason,  and  a  partner  in  the 
successful  dry  goods  house  of  J.  H.  Clarke  &  Co.  of 
Worcester,  where  he  now  lives.] 

After  two  years  of  war  and  battles,  com- 
mencing with  first  Bull  Run  (July  21, 18bl),  I 
with  my  regiment.  Third  Maine  Infantry,  find 
ourselves  June.  1863,  on  our  way  with  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac  to  the  field  of  Gettysburg. 
The  interval  between  these  two  dates  had  not 
been  uneventful  or  inactive  on  the  oart  of  our 
command. 

I  enlisted  at  the  a?e  of  19  from  the  city  of 
Ausrusta,  being  rejected  without  examination 
by  my  own  brother,  who  was  a  commissioned 
and  recruiting  officer  at  the  city  of  Hallowell 
(our  home),  he  fonninsr  a  company  for  the 
Third  Infantry.  I  was  refused  enlistment  sim- 
ply for  this  reason— I  was  physically  unfit  lot 


RELIEVING    THE    YANKEE    LIEUTENANT    OF    HIS    SWORD. 


A  PRISONER'S  DIARY. 


239 


the  life  of  a  soldier,  and  as  at  that  period  (April . 
'61)  there  were  plenty  of  men  only  too  anxious 
to  enlist  they  could  choose  their  material, 
which  later  in  the  war  could  not  have  been 
done. 

I  was  at  work  in  a  dry  goods  store  at  this  time, 
when  the  first  gun  was  fired  on  Sumter, 
weighed  112  pounds,  and  dia  not  look  a  very 
promising  suoject  for  Uncle  Sam's  uniform,  but 
I  w  .nto'i  to  enlist  just  as  badly  as  my  big 
brother  of  176  pounds.  My  first  application  at 
Auarusta  was  to  Capt.  Staples,  Company  B,  but 
there  met  with  the  same  reply— did  not  want 
ma  At  this  time,  instead  of  being  discouraged. 
I  was  determine^  to  enlist,  and  in  the  Third 
Maine  also,  as  the  regiment  was  to  be  formed 
from  companies  from  the  Kenneoec  Valley.  So 
I  applied  10  the  Adjutant  General  of  the  State, 
and  even  he  tried  to  discourage  me,  but  at  last 
gave  me  a  written  permit  lor  Capt.  Staples  to 
enroll  me  among  his  men.  Witn  this  document 
I  did  not  apply  in  vain,  but  was  at  once  en- 
listed as  a  high  private  in  Company  B. 

We  shall  hear  from  this  brother  of  mine  before 
I  get  out  of  the  army,  for  after  he  recovered  his 
health  he  was  commissioned  in  the  United 
States  navy,  where  he  served  until  the  end  of 
the  war. 

After  the  death  of  Reynolds  the  command  de- 
Tolved  on  Major  General  O.  O.  Howard,  who.  by 
the  way,  was  our  first  Colonel  of  the  Third  Maine 
and  fought  with  us  at  first  Bull  Run,  but  was 
goon  after  rapidly  promoted  and  is  to-day  the 
second  ranking  officer  in  the  United  States 
army.  These  two  small  corps  of  the  Federal 
army,  not  numbering  more  than  10,000  men. 
were  pitted  against  the  divisions  of  Heth. 
Rhodes  Early  and  Fender,  full  40,000  men.  and 
the  remainder  of  the  Confederate  army  in  sup- 
porting distance.  During  the  night  before  my  first 
capture  both  armies  received  heavy  reinforce- 
ments, and  as  the  Third  (Sickles'*)  Corps  was 
on  the  extreme  left  of  the  Union  lines  and  sup- 
posed to  be  facing  the  right  of  the  Confederate 
army,  it  was  of  the  utmost  importance  to  locate 
the  Confederate  position.  Our  regiment  was 
poste  1  in  the  then  unknown  to  history  Peach 
Orchard,  when  on  the  early  morning  of  July  2 
our  command,  numbering  only  196  rifles,  with 
10O  Unite  I  States  sharpshooters,  all  under  com- 
mand of  Gen.  Berdan,  was  ordered  by  Gen. 
Sickles  to  make  a  reeonnoissance  of  the  posi- 
tion, to  feel  for  and  find  the  enemy. 

At  the  word  "  forward"  we  advanced,  and  for 
half  a  mile  outside  our  lines  pierced  the 
enemy's  territory,  when  a  dense  wood  obstruct- 
ed our  front.  We  then  advanced  a  quarter  of 
a  mile  through  these  woods,  wnen  our  skirmish- 
er-^ became  hotlv  engaged,  driving  the  enemy's 
skirmishers  and  pickets  before  us.  We  soon  en- 
gaged the  enemy  in  force,  and  they  commenced 
to  take  us  on  the  flank  as  well  as  front.  attempt- 
Ing  to  cut  us  off  from  our  line  of  retreat.  We 
engaged  tbls  body  of  rebels  for  thirty  minutes, 
though  the  odds  were  thousands,  and  when  the 
bugle  called  the  retreat  we  fought  our  way  back 


foot  by  foot.  We  had  nearly  reached  the  open 
ground,  fighting  step  by  step,  when  one  of  my 
men,  who  had  fought  by  my  side  for  two  long 
years,  fell,  with  a  musket  ball  through  his  hips, 
and  as  he  fell  said,  "Sergeant,  don't  desert  ma 
Help  me  out  of  these  woods."  Another  one  of 
my  company,  noble  fellow  that  he  was,  came  to 
my  assistance,  and  with  his  help  1  seated  Call, 
the  wounded  man.  across  a  musket,  and.  with 
his  arms  around  our  necks,  with  the  bullets 
flying  around  us,  and  with  these  exultant  rebs 
at  our  heels  twenty  to  one.  were  making  slow 
but  sure  progress,  when  Jones  dropped  his  end 
of  the  musket  and  fell  dead,  shot  through  the 
head.  Before  I  coulc)  recover,  get  Call's  arms 
from  around  me  and  escape,  for  I  coul  i  not 
think  of  trying  to  assist  him  farther  alone,  the 
Johnnies  were  on  top  and  around  us  and  we  all 
three  were  prisoners.  But  a  dead  and  wounded 
man  were  of  no  use  to  them,  so  I,  with  a  few 
equally  unfortunate,  were  secured. 

I  touud  that  my  captors  were  Wilcock's  Bri- 
gade of  Alabama  regiments,  a  portion  of  A.  P. 
Hill's  Corps,  and  how  a  single  one  of  our  little 
command  had  ever  escaped  is  strange.  As  it 
was.  we  lost  48  men  in  killed  and  wounded  in 
this  single  half  hour;  but  we  had  our  fighting 
Colonel  with  us,  Moses  B.  Lakeman,  who  could 
get  more  workout  of  a  small  command  than  any 
army  officer  I  ever  saw. 


Like  all  prisoners  of  war,  we  were  taken  to 
the  rear  far  enough  to  be  out  of  range  of  the 
guns  of  either  army,  but  near  enough  to  hear 
hundreds  of  cannons  and  thousands  of  rifles 
engaged  in  deadly  conflict  throughout  that  day 
and  the  following.  July  3. 

We  remained  on  or  near  the  field  until  the 
night  of  July  4,  when,  with  the  beaten  and  re- 
treating army  of  Gen.  Lee,  we  took  up  our  line 
of  march  to  the  Potomac,  which  we  crossed 
July  10.  Could  the  victorious  army  of  Meade 
only  have  been  informed  of  the  condition  of  the 
Confederate  army  nothing  could  have  pre- 
vented  their  surrender  or  destruction,  for  they 
were  discouraged,  weary  and  beaten,  out  of 
ammunition,  quartermaster's  and  commissary 
stores,  and  when  we  arrived  at  the  banks  of  the 
swollen  Potomac  at  Point  of  Rocks  they  found 
that  the  pontoons  by  which  we  were  to  cross 
the  river  had  been  swept  away  by  the  sudden 
rise  of  water  in  the  upper  Potomac,  as  it  had 
rained  every  day  since  leaving  the  battlefield. 

Now  for  our  Ions  tramp  down  the  Shenandoah 
Valley  to  Staunton,  Va.,  more  than  a  hundred 
miles  away.  We  had  about  5000  prisoners  in 
our  column,  and  were  guarded  by  the  remainder 
of  Picket's  Division,  the  few  that  were  left  after 
their  brave  but  unsuccessful  charge  on  our  cen- 
tre on  July  3.  After  being  searched  at  Staunton, 
and  having  our  blankets  and  everything  of  value 
taken  from  us,  we  were  put  in  ,  ox  cars,  60  to  a 
car,  and  started  for  the  rebel  capital,  and  en- 
tered the  city  of  Richmond  July  21,  '63.  iust  two 
years  to  a  day  from  the  date  of  the  battle  of  th« 
First  Bull  Run.  We  prisoners,  who  were  mad* 
UP  of  all  grades  of  commissioned,  non-commis- 
sioued  officers  and  privates,  were  all  at  first  put 


240 


STORIES    OF    OUR    SOLDIERS. 


in  Libby  Prison,  but  soon  the  enlisted  men, 
which,  of  course,  tooKall  warrant  officers,  were 
taken  from  Libby  and  put  uuo'i  Belle  Island,  a 
small,  sandy  tract  of  land  in  the  James  River. 
just  above  but  in  close  proximity  and  in  sight 
of.Kichmond.  Here  we  soon  l>egan  to  feel  ail 
the  horrors  of  prison  life,  for  our  island  was  fear- 
fully crowded:  we  had  poor  and  insufficient 
food  and  water,  only  a  few  condemned  army 
tents  in  cover  the  thousand*  that  were  crowded 
on  this  small  sand  bar.  and  we  daily  receiving 
new  prisoners  from  different  points  throughout 
the  Confederacy. 

Our  rations  were  not  enough  to  keep  body  and 
soul  together,  and  I  think  that  many  would  have 
died  who  did  not  but  for  the  hope  of  home  and 
our  lines  and  trust  in  our  future  deliverance. 


After  my  release  from  my  first  rebel  prison  I 
arrived  at  Annapolis  parole  camp.  Maryland.  1 
was  at  once  taken  to  the  hospital,  and  when  I 
ha>l  recovered  sufficiently  had  a  short  furlough 
homa  I  remained  there  some  ten  days  when 
an  order  was  issued  from  the  War  Department 
declaring  all  parole*!  prisoners  of  war  legally 
exchanged,  and  those  that  were  able  to  report 
for  ciuiy  to  their  regiments  at  one*-.  Oct.  16  I 
joine  inv  regiment  in  the  field  at  Brandy  Sta- 
tion, Va..  glad  to  be  with  the  old  Third  again 
and  fikf  in  for  and  under  the  dag  I  had  learned 
to  love  so  well. 

1  fought,  with  our  division,  the  battles  of 
Mine  Run  an-1  Orange  Qrove,  engagements  of 
small  consequence,  and  -uring  this  time  had 
been  commissioned  by  the  Governor  of  Maine 
Lieutenant  of  my  company.  May  4,  under 
General  Grant  the  Armv  of  the  Potomac  com- 
menced its  onward  march  toward  the  rebel 
capital,  and  the  night  of  this  date  finds  our 
«livis«n  on  the  battlefield  of  Chance  lorsville  of 
12  months  before,  and  the  following  day  finds 
us  hotly  engaged  in  the  battle  of  the  Wilder- 
ness During  this  engagement,  and  while  oar 
brigade  and  regiment  were  having  a  most  des- 
perate struggle  with  the  enemy,  a  report  came 
to  our  Colonel  that  there  was  a  rebel  line  in  our 
rear,  or.  in  other  words,  we  wer«  flanked ;  also 
instruction-"  that  he,  our  Colonel,  should  fur- 
nish an  officer  to  accompany  General  Ward's 
Chief  of  Staff  and  find  out  the  truth  of  the 
reuort.  My  Colonel  said  I  was  the  party  selected 
to  accompany  Captain  Nash,  and  to  lose  no 
time  in  reporting  the  truth,  or  otherwise,  of 
this  startling  rumor.  So  we  started  to  the  rear 
on  the  run,  as  we  did  not  consider  it  necessary 
to  use  much  caution  in  going  in  this  direction. 
Less  than  three  minutes'  time  found  us  in  the 
midst  of  a  rebel  line  of  infantry,  lying  down  as 
close. to  the  earth  as  was  possible;  so  close  that 
we  mistook  them,  in  the  imperfect  light  of  the 
woods  at  that  time,  as  the  ground  itself,  and, 
before  we  had  time  to  change  our  course  they 
were  on  their  feet  and  around  us.  I  grasped 
the  terriMe  situation,  and  turned  to  run  for  life 
and  the  front;  but  a  hundre  I  men  were  on  their 
feet  In  a  secon  1  of  lime.  Nasii.  who  had  never 
been  a  prisoner  of  war,  had  surrendered,  as  he 
saw  resistance  was  useless,  worse  than  folly; 
but  I,  with  my  seven  weeks  of  horrible  prison 
Mfe  just  passed,  and  all  its  terrible  leatures  still 


fresh  in  my  mind,  thought  that  life  again  in  a 
Southern  prison  was  not  worth  saving.  So  I 
ma<le  another  dash  for  liberty,  when  a  hundred 
muskets  at  less  than  16  paces  covered  me  with 
t  ne  order  to  surrender  or  I  was  a  dead  Yankee. 


I  did  surrender  then  and  there,  and  was  at  ono« 
disarmed,  they  in  their  haste  snatching  my 
swor  i  from  my  bo  iy,  a  rebel  Captain  of  in- 
fantry buckling  it  around  his  own  bo  y  in  ex- 
change lor  a  poor  one  that  he  had  worn  (J.  CL 
B.  Smith.  Twelfth  South  Carolina  Infantry,  so 
I  learned  13  vears  later).  Tnis  rebel  command 
entered  our  lines  where  they  did  not  connect, 
but.  oein,'  so  small  a  body,  found  it  useJess  to 
make  any  demon -tration,  ut  took  themselves 
out  of  their  perilous  position;  for  if  word  could 
have  »een  tak  -n  to  the  front,  so  short  a  istance 
away,  every  man  could  have  been  captured. 

I  was  taken  to  Macon,  ami  almost  the  first  per- 
sons 1  saw  as  we  pa-sed  inside  the  iuclosure 
were  Lieuts.  Anderson  and  Day.  and  as  soon  at 
they  ha  '  got  their  mouths  closed  from  crying 
"Fresh  Fish  "  as  usual  to  all  new  arrivals,  they 
rushed  forward,  more  pleased  to  see  me  than  I 
them,  as  I  was  the  only  officer  they  haa  seen 
from  the  regiment  during  their  long  term  of  im- 
prisonment 

Every  prisoner  after  a  time  accumulates  little 
articles  that  make  prison  life  endurable,  and 
Lieut.  Anderson  was  quartered  un  ler  a  sort  of 
shed  or  simply  a  roof  of  i  oar-Is  over  him,  which, 
with  some  incovenieuce  and  crowdi  g  he  in- 
vited me  to  share,  and  also  loaned  me  his  cook- 
ing utensils,  which  were  half  a  canteen,  which 
he  used  to  cook  his  corn  meal  in,  as  at  that  time 
the  Commissary  was  issuing  to  the  prisoner* 
sorghum  molasses  and  corn  meal;  and  lor  a  i  aff 
for  my  meal  I  used  one  o.  the  legs  of  my  Canton 
flannel  drawers,  and  the  only  fault  1  ever  found 
with  this  improvised  bag  was  that  it  was  alto» 
ge:  her  too  large  for  the  Quantity  of  meal  issued. 


We  remained  at  Macon  Prison  until  AUK.  18, 
and  just  be > ore  this  date  our  camp  was  honored 
by  the  presence  of  Gen.  Stoneman  ot  cavalry 
fame,  who  was  captured  with  a  portion  of  bill 
command  outside  the  city,  while  trying  to  HD- 
erate  us  prisoners  from  our  captivity.  About 
this  date,  Au-r  16.  800  officers.  1  among  the  num- 
ber, were  put  on  the  cars,  but  for  what  purpose 
or  what  destination  we  knew  not:  we  knew  it 
was  to  tie  a  free  ride;  as  to  the  Direction  we  were 
not  consulted,  but  our  final  stopping  place  wa| 
Charleston.  S.  C. ,  and  were  at  oncu  distributed 
among  the  different  buildings  prepared  for  our 
reception,  viz:  Kooer  and  Marine  Hospitals, 
Work  douse  and  City  Jail,  the  latter  being  my 
stopping  place;  but  1  had  learned  not  to  be  par- 
ticular in  my  hotels,  so  said  nothing  when  I 
was  put  in  a  seven  by  nine  ceil. 

At  that  time  the  city  of  Charleston  was  under 
a  state  of  seige  from  the  water  side,  as  Gen.  Fos- 
ter was  daily  and  nightly  throwing  the  largest 
kind  of  shell  from  the  uattenes  on  Morris  Island, 
Battery  Greegaud  the  Swamp  Augel.  right  into 
the  heart  of  tiie  city,  and  we  had  been  taken  to 
this  place  and  put  in  the  most  exposed  location! 


A    PRISONER  S    DIARY. 


241 


co  prevent,  II  possible,  the  bombardment  of  this 

rebel  stronghold. 

Our  Government  was  notified  of  what  the  Con- 
federate authorities  had  done,  out  it  bein*  an 
inhuman  and  uii  warranted  act,  ana  a  violation  of 
any  previous  articles  01  honorable  warfare  to 
put  prisoners  uuder  tbe  fire  of  their  own  guns, 
Foster  paid  not  tne  sligutest  attention  iotue  de- 
maud  to  cease  firing  uuou  the  city  011  account  of 
our  exposed  position,  but  it  anything  increased 
the  severity  01  the  siege.  As  tne  casualties 
among  the  prisoners  irom  this  ariil.ery  duel 
were  very  sinail,  we  being  so  well  sheltered 
in  these  uuilduirfs,  we  rather  eujoyeu  this 
change  in  our  prison  lite:  iiked  to  watch  the  ef- 
fects of  these  3uu  pound  shell  irom  guns  lour 
miles  away,  to  bear  tuoui  come  tearing  into  the 
city,  see  them  strike  buildings,  see  them  crum- 
ble, and  alter  a  while  be  uestroyeu  uy  these  ter- 
ribie  engines  oi  war.  One  oi  the  strangest  parts 
of  tins  duel  was  that  my  brother,  wlio  resigned 
from  me  army  auu  my  regiment  16  moutns  be- 
fore on  the  Fenmsula,  on  account  oi  severe  and 
prolonged  sickness,  uaa  recoverea,  was  commis- 
sioned in  ihe  United  Estates  Navy,  and  was  tak- 
ing a  part  in  Charleston  Harbor  at  the  siege  on 
this  Southern  city,  and  was  not  only  showing 
his  brotherly  feeling  uy  this  red  hot  reception  in 
the  way  of  shell  ana  solid  shot,  but  sent  irom 
the  deet  wnile  1  was  confined  in  Charleston  a 
box  oi  everything  that  would  have  made  our 
beans  and  stomachs  glad,  could  it  have  been  re- 
ceived. 1  learned  of  my  brother's  location  off 
Charleston  by  ihe  cauture  ol  one  01  his  brother 
officers  attached  to  the  same  ship,  who  was 
Caught  while  doing  picknt  uuty  under  tue  walls 
Of  oumter,  br  the  Rebels. 

My  diary  commences  at  this  date.  Sept  17,  as 
follows:  ah«lis  irom  our  guns  caused  a  large 
tire  last  night,  destroying  29  Buildings,  several 
•hells  striding  our  prison  uut  not  doing  much 
injury. 

tteuu  20.  Gave  draft  on  rebel  broker  for  $100 
in  gold,  receiving  $1UOO  in  Conlederte  money 
in  exchange,  but  as  this  broker  uas  got  to  inn 
the  blockade  to  present  these  uraits  for  pay- 
ment m  ihe  North,  there  is  uot  much  chance  of 
tiunr  ever  being  honored  aud  pal  i.  (.but  umor- 
tun.iteiy  tuey  were,  and  when  the  premium  on 
goid  was  at  236.  so  1  fouu-i  to  my  di.^  coin  mure 
when  1  nnaliy  got  North.) 

yept.  26.  Two-hundred  officers  leftourprison 
for  exchange,  Happy  lew.  Naval  officers  re- 
ceivea  money  and  uoxes  from  fleet,  but  most  of 
the  contents  01  boxes  uaa  been  taken,  \\rote 
home.  Letter  examiuea  by  rebel  official  before 
Allowed  to  be  lor  warded. 

ttepu  28.  More  sueiiing  to-day  than  any  24 
hours  since  being  iu  Charleston.  Foster  throw- 
ing 90  very  heavy  shell  rixht  into  the  upper 
part  ol  the  towu. 

Sept.  3U  Naval  officers  left  for  Richmond 
and  exchange. 

Oct.  1.  Firing  on  the  city  continues  very 
heavy.  Eigm.y-.our  shell  turowu  during  the  past 
24  a  ours. 

Oct.  2.  Shelling  of  the  city  unusu  illy  severe, 
170  heavy  shells  having  left  Four's  guns  for 
Charleston  during  the  past  12  hours. 


Oct.  17.  We  had  an  election  to-day  in  our 
oamp  for  President,  and  out  of  tbe  1161  vote* 
cast.  Lincoln  received  889  of  those  polled.  Mo- 
Clellan  stock  being  very  unpopular.  This  re- 
sult was  very  much  of  a  surprise  to  the  prison 
authorities,  wuo  supposed  the  camu  was  stro  .2 
McCleilau,  aud  said  before  we  had  bal  oted, 
they  would  print  in  tbo  Columbia  papers  the 
vote  as  it  was  cast;  but  wneii  they  learned  the 
result,  refused  to  have  anything  to  do  with  it. 

Oct.  19.  Camp  alarmed;  guards  fir>ug  all 
along  the  line,  on  account  of  some  of  our  men 
trying  to  escape,  nouuds  put  on  their  irack 
and  tney  were  soon  recaptured  and  brought 
back  to  camn. 

Oct.  21.  Lieut.  Yoang,  Fourth  Pennsylvania 
Cavalry,  accidentally  snot  bv  some  of  the  new 
issue ;  died  at  once. 

Oct.  20.  Some  of  our  officers  in  attempting  to 
escape  last  night,  were  tired  on  by  tne  guard, 
doing  them  no  injury,  but  on  tne  contrary  shot 
one  of  their  own  men  dead  on  his  l.eat.  ;ioj»e  to 
take  this  chance  myself  before  long.  Migtn  as 
well  be  shot  in  attempting  an  escape  as  to  die 
from  exposure  and  lack  of  sufficient  food.  One 
of  our  officers  shot  fatally  while  attempting 
to  escape  last  night. 

Nov.  7.  Thirteen  officers  brought  inio  camo 
to-day,  having  some  days  before  succeeded  m 
getting  by  the  guard  at  night,  but  were  re- 
capture I,  as  every  white  man  in  the  county  is 
hunting  rebel  deserters  or  escaping  Yankee 
prisoners. 

Nov.  9.  Twenty-one  officers  recaptured  and 
brought  back  to  camp,  but  believe  if  i  once  get 
outsi.m  the  rebel  guard  will  be  successful  in 
reaching  our  lines,  either  at  the  coast  or  at 
Kuoxville.  Teun..  60<)  miles  distant. 

Nov.  12.  Received  box  from  home,  but  most 
of  its  contents  had  been  confiscated  by  tne 
prison  authorities  before  it  was  delivered  to  me. 

Nov.  20.  Another  one  of  our  men  shot  last 
night  while  trying  to  run  by  the  guard. 

Nov.  21-  Having  been  removed  to  Columbia 
Prison,  last  night  three  officers,  Lieuts.  An  ler- 
son  and  Giiman  of  my  regiment,  and  Lieut 
Guilds  of  the  Sixteenth  .aiiie.  also  myself, 
made  a  break  for  liberty  and  God  s  century  by 
running  down  the  guard.  Had  him  helpleM 
and  at  our  mercy.  The  balance  of  the  guard 
fired  upon  us.  i.ut  in  the  darkness  and  confusion 
of  the  moment  did  not  do  us  any  t>o  lily  harm, 
we  running  for  the  woods  i»s  soon  as  possible. 

Have  had  nothing  to  eat  but  dry  corn  which 
we  found  in  the  fields,  for  the  oast  24  hours. 

Dec.  4.  Early  this  morning  the  slaves  brought 
us  a  nice  breakfast. 

The  >iay  uein-r  Sunday,  the  family  are  going 
to  church,  and  the  Brooks'  house  servant,  who 
has  een  in  the  woo  is  to  see  us,  has  promised, 
after  the  family  are  out  of  the  house,  she  will 
show  us  the  identical  cane  that  Brooks  usod 
upon  the  uncovered  and  defenceless  heal  of 
our  Senator.  After  the  family  were  out  of  the 
house  this  woman  brought  a  wash  leather  sack 
into  the  thicket  tor  our  examination. 


242 


STORIES    OF   OUR   SOLDIERS. 


The  cane  originally  was  a  larsre  rosewood 
sticK  with  a  massive  gold  head,  and  on  its  face 
this  inscription:  "  Hon.  P.  S.  Brooks  from  B. 
IX  Vick."  Must  have  been  a  presentation  cane 
from  some  admirer  of  this  Southern  bully. 

The  stick  was  totally  destroyed,  broken  in 
three  pieces,  used  up  on  the  head  of  Sumner, 
from  the  effects  of  which  he  never  fully  recov- 
ered. My  great  desire  was  to  to  take  this  cane 
away  with  me,  and  I  so  expressed  myself,  but 
the  servant  protested  with  so  much  earnest- 
ness that  I  gave  up  the  idea,  for  she  said  the 
house  was  left  in  her  charge,  and  if  this  cane 
was  missed,  which  it  certainly  would  be,  she 
would  be  called  upon  to  produce  it,  or  satisfac- 
torily explain  its  absence. 

Dec.  9.  We  were  then  hidden  in  the  woods 
when  it  soon  commenced  snowing,  the  first  of 
the  season,  when  soon  our  guide  came  for  us, 
and  hid  us  for  the  day  in  a  negro  cabin. 

Dec.  10.  This  morning  two  poor  runaway 
slaves,  brother  anil  sister,  came  to  see  us.  They 
are  living  in  the  woods  to  keep  put  of  the  way 
of  their  master,  an  ,  are  suffering  much  from 
exposure  this  cold  and  wet  weather,  and  th  -y 
think  because  we  are  from  the  North  we  can 
help  them ;  but  we  are  in  as  bad  if  not  worse 
shape  than  themselves,  for  we  are  liable  to  cap- 
ture in  any  unguarded  moment.  The  slightest 
carelessness  or  accident  may  throw  us  into  the 
hands  of  the  enemy,  which  is  every  white  face 
in  the  South.  So,  although  we  sympathize  with 
them  in  their  terrible  situation,  yet  we  can  do 
nothing  to  r«li«va  them 

Fortunately  we  later  struck  the  cabin  of  a 
Union  woman  bv  the  name  of  Prince,  and  she 
proved  a  prince  to  us,  who  fed  and  warmed  us, 
for  we  were  wet,  hungry  ana  cold.  After  this 
woman  was  convinced  that  we  were  escaped 
Union  prisoners  of  war,  she  opened  her  heart  to 
us;  told  us  that  her  husband  was  a  Union  man 
but  ban  been  obliged  to  go  Into  the  rebel  army, 
where  he  was  shot  and  died 

She  also  told  us  that  10  miles  from  her  house 
up  in  the  mountains,  there  was  a  camp  of  Out 
Liers  made  up  of  rebel  deserters  ami  Union  men 
who  had  never  been  in  the  Conlederate  army, 
who  were  living  in  caves  in  the  mountains  to 
avoid  being  captured  and  shot  or  taken  into  the 
army  by  a  company  of  Rangers  who  were  in  the 
Confederate  service,  employed  to  capture  or 
shoot  the^e  men.  These  Out  Liers  had  told  this 
Union  woman,  Mrs.  Prince,  that  if  she  ever 
came  across  any  Yankee  prisoners  that  were 
making  for  our  lines  to  bring  them  to  their 
camp,  and  they  would  go  through  the  moun- 
tains with  them  and  ioin  the  Federal  army. 

After  hearing  tnis,  to  us  weicouie  news,  set- 
tins  dry  and  rested,  we  then  at  about  mid- 
night, with  this  Union  woman  for  a  guide. 
Started  for  this  Out  Liers'  camp,  which  we 
readied  ju  t  before  daylight,  for  it  was  ten  long 
miles,  and  in  a  mountainous  country;  and  a 
rougher  looking  set  of  men  I  never  saw,  all 
armed  to  the  teeth  with  knives,  revolvers,  mus- 
kets, rifles  or  axes,  and  at  first  we  did  not  know 
but  what  this  woman  had  betrayed  us  to  a  pack 
of  bushwhackers. 


Dec.  15.  This  camp  consisted  of  about  16 
men,  whose  homes  were  scattered  through  the 
mountains,  who  go  home  occasionally  to  get 
food  or  a  change  of  clothing,  or  else  their  fami- 
lies come  into  the  mountains  to  see  them,  and 
living  such  a  life  as  they  do,  are  willing  and 
anxious  to  go  through  to  Tennessee  with  us, 
and  we  are  very  glad  of  their  company,  lor  they 
are  familiar  with  all  the  passes  in  the  moun- 
tains. 

Dec.  19.  To-night  we  start  for  Knoxville  in 
earnest,  for  our  party  now  numbers  46  men, 
quite  a  strong  partv  for  the  rangers  to  strike. 

Crossed  the  first  range  of  the  Blue  Kidge.  and 
the  mountains  we  have  crossed  during  the  day 
have  been  covered  with  snow  and  ice,  and  as 
cold  on  their  top  as  in  Maine  in  winter. 

Dec.  23.  Yesterday  we  ma  le  20  miles,  and  at 
night  encamped  at  the  foot  of  Hoe  Back  Moun- 
tain. 

Dec.  24.  This  morning  14  of  our  party  started 
back  for  Sputh  Georgia.  Got  frightened  at  the 
prospect  oi  meeting  Indians  some  30  miles  in 
advance  of  us;  also  are  afraid  of  .the  snow  and 
cold  we  are  encountering  in  these  fearful  moun- 
tains ;  say  they  had  rather  be  shot  at  their  own 
doors  by  the  rangers  and  be  buried  by  their  fam- 
ilies than  ,ie  of  cold  and  starvation  so  far  away 
from  home.  Do  not  blame  them  any,  but  we 
have  no  choice  left  us;  must  press  through,  al- 
though the  prosuect  is  a  very  gloomy  one. 

A  mistake  taking  this  fearful  course  in  midwin- 
ter through  these  mountains  that  are  full  of 
snow,  and  we  dressed  in  summer  clothing,  uo 
underclothes,  stockings  worn  out  days  since 
shoes  al  1  to  pieces  and  clothing  in  rags  irom 
rough  usage  in  the  mountains,  as  we  slip  and 
fall  every  dozen  steps,  and  this  adds  to  the 
many  rends  and  rags  on  our  Bodies. 

Got  a  guide  from  this  section  who  says  he 
wlil  go  through  with  us.  as  our  present  South 
Carolina  friends  are  no  good  to  us;  are  so  far 
away  from  home  that  they  know  no  more  of  the 
passes  in  the  mountains  ahead  oi  us  than  we 
Yankees.  Crossed  Tennessee  Mountains  to-day. 
the  highest  range  we  have  yet  struck,  being 
three  miles  to  its  top.  Made  15  miles  to-day. 

Deo.  25.  Early  to-day  crossed  a  very  high 
peak  known  as  the  Balsam  Mountain.  3Va  miles 
to  the  summit,  and,  being  covere<l  with  snow, 
was  very  hard  to  climb.  At  noon  cross  el  the 
Rich  Mountain,  another  very  high  peak,  an  !  at 
its  summit  we  seemed  to  be  abore  the  tops  of 
the  clouds.  At  night  encamped  at  the  foot  of 
Chestnut  Mountain  in  a  very  severe  snow  storm 
which  continued  all  night.  Distance  made,  13 
miles. 

Dec.  26.  Crossed  many  high  mountain* 
during  the  day.  and  at  night  encamped  near  the 
State  road  that  leads  to  Georgia.  Have  been  on 
allowance  since  Saturday,  only  three  bites  of 
bread  and  meat  for  24  hours.  Distance  made, 
12  miles. 

Dec.  27.  Crossed  the  State  road  at  daylight. 
We  are  now  tour  miles  past  Scott's  Creek  Bal- 
sam Mountain,  which  took  us  all  day  to  cross, 
encamping  at  night  at  the  foot  of  Catalouch 


A    PRISONERS    DIARY. 


24:3- 


Mountain  in  a  rain  storm.  Distance  made,  only 
eight  miles. 

Dec.  28.  It  rained  all  last  night,  and  this 
morning  commenced  snowing  and  coniinued 
all  day,  and  Uo.i  only  knows  whether  we  shall 
ever  be  able  to  stand  the  exposure  and  suffer- 
ing we  are;  hourly  called  upon  to  endure.  Are 
now  livin-c  on  raw  corn  and  wet  chestnuts 
which  we  tind  in  these  mountains,  for  our  food 
grave  out  a  number  of  days  ago.  Teeth  and 
gums  are  so  sore  from  eating  this  kind  of  food 
that  it  is  painful  to  open  and  close  our  mouths. 
Distance  made  to-day.  9  miles. 

Dec.  29.  Snowed  again  last  night  until  morn- 
ing. No  sleep  for  any  of  us.  Went  to  a  house 
for  food,  also  <  dree  lions,  for  we  are  almost 
starved.  Found  a  good  Union  man  who  fed  us 
and  gave  us  the  information  wanted.  Distance, 
10  miles. 

Dec.  30.  Slept  in  a  house  last  night,  and  if 
ever  1  enjoyed  the  protection  of  a  roof  it  was  on 
this  occasion,  for  we  have  had  nothing  hut  the 
heavens  for  a  covering  for  many  days :  rain, 
snow  and  cold  to  contend  with,  always  with  wet 
feet,  and  frequently  thoroughly  wet  from  head 
to  loot  for  several  days  at  a  time,  hungry,  tired 
and  discouraged,  the  protection  of  this  roof  and 
a  full  stomach  on  ice  more  makes  me  think  life 
is  worth  struggling  a  little  while  longer  for. 
We  are  now  w  thin  one  mile  of  tne  main  road 
to  Knoxville.  which  I  hope  we  can  take,  for  we 
have  suffered  so  much  in  the  mountains  that 
I  want  to  leave  them  at  once  and  forever.  The 
party  have  concluded  to  take  to  the  mountains 
again,  for  we  hear  there  are  guards  on  the  road. 
Started  over  the  mountains  once  more,  bat 
after  going  four  miles  three  of  us  vowed  we 
could  KO  no  farther,  but  would  take  the  road, 
guards  or  no  guards;  so  we  left  the  main  party 
with  one  of  our  Third  Maine  Lieutenants,  S.  L. 
Gilmau;  ana  Anderson.  Ghilds  and  myself 
started  for  the  public  highway.  Came  near  cap- 
ture, for  as  we  were  approaching  a  house  where 
we  had  been  told  lived  a  loyal  Tennesseean. 
Wbo,  unknown  to  as,  was  feeding  lour  rebel 
cavalrymen,  and  as  we  jumped  the  fence  to 
enter  the  house  his  wife  chanced  to  come  to  the 
door,  seeing  us  just  in  the  nick  of  time,  mo- 
tioned us  uack  and  away.  We  kept  the  house 
in  sight,  and  after  the  rebs  had  got  filled  up, 
mounted  their  horses  and  drove  off,  then  we 
took  our  turn  and  got  a  good  square  meal  from 
the  sam°  *-»M«  that.  th«  I^hnni^0  i>»ri  vacated. 

Jan.  5.  Came  into  the  Union  lines  at  noon  to- 
day, meeting  a  sauadof  tne  Tenth  Michigan 
Cava  ry  who  were  out  fornging.  or.  rather,  get- 
ting lodder  <or  their  horses.  Slept  at  night  in 
the  camp  of  the  First  Ohio  Heavy  Artillery. 
Distance  made,  19  miles.  Made  a  portion  of  it 
on  one  of  the  army  wagons  which  were  out 
with  ihe  Tenth  Michigan  gathering  forage. 

Jan.  6.  Presseu  three  horses  of  the  larmers 
and  rode  to  Knoxville,  some  25  miles  distant, 
entering  that  city  Jan.  7,  after  being  on  txe 
road  seven  weeks. 

No  human  being  can  imagine  our  feelings  as 
we  entered  that  city  except  he  has  been  in  the 
same  identical  position  that  we  had  been  in; 
could  hardly  realize  our  situation ;  were  more 


like  children  than  men;  would  first  laugh  at 
our  good  fortune  and  then  we  could  not  Keep 
back  ihe  tears  when  we  knew  it  was  all  100 
true,  at  last  in  God's  country  and  our  sufferings 
at  aii  end. 

The  war  at  that  time  was  nearly  over,  yet  no 
one  Knew  how  long  it  might  last,  and  after  I 
got  over  my  tatigue  and  repiacea  some  o.  my 
lost  tio.sli  after  my  long  captivity  i  nad  still  a 
strong  desire  to  see  the  end  ui  the  war,  and  was 
anxious  to  get  back  to  the  army  again;  and 
after  remaining  at  home  about  six  weeks  was 
commissioned  by  the  Governor  as  First  Lieu- 
tenant and  Adjutant  First  Maine  Battalion  and 
sent  to  Virginia  oar'v  in  Anril 

The  surrender  01  tne  Army  ol  Northern  Vir- 
ginia and  all  the  troops  under  the  rebel  Hag 
tooK  place  when  we  had  Deen  at  the  front  but  a 
short  time,  and  after  tue  grand  review  at  Wash- 
ington of  the  .Potomac  and  Western  Armies 
most  of  the  troops  were  mustered  out;  but  as  at 
this  time  troops  had  to  uo  retained  to  garrison 
Southern  cities,  freedman's  duty  to  be  done, 
ami  many  other  duties,  with  ihe  last  enlisted 
commands  our  oaualion  was  retained  and 
served  its  entire  time  out— one  year — and  was 
filially  mustered  out  April  5, 1866, 12  months 
after  Lee's  surrender. 

We  stopped  one  day  at  Columbia  on  our  way 
up  the  country,  and  the  contrast  between  the 
present  condition  ot  Columoia  and  when  I  was 
a  heloiess  prisoner  was  as  marked  as  the  con- 
trast between  my  conditions  at  these  iwo  dates, 
for  between  them  Sherman  had  made  his 
march  to  the  sea,  and  he  had  pat  ms  hand 
down  heavily  on  that  city,  for  at  that  hour  halt 
the  city  wa»  in  ashes,  and  I  did  not  mourn  in 
consequence.  Had  time  while  there  to  visit  my 
old  orison  camp  of  the  November  before ;  found 
what  was  left  of  my  miserable  apology 
of  a  brush  tent  that  had  served  such  a  good- 
purpose  in  sheltering  me  from  tne  coin;  visiteu 
the  spring  where  we  got  our  water,  the  spot 
where  we  broke  through  the  lines  on  the  20th 
of  JNovember.  Also  found  the  hut  of  Captain 
Jack  Adams,  where  he  used  to  hold  forth  (was 
a  leader  of  men  even  in  prison),  our  now  so 
popular  Sergeant-afc-Arms  at  the  Slate  Capitol 
in  Boston 

Next  stop  was  at  Anderson  Court  House 
and,  while  the  command  were  disembarking 
from  the  cars,  jumped  011  my  horse  and  rode  to 
a  little  cottage  nquse  near  the  depot,  and  seeing 
a  gentleman  in  the  yard,  asked  him  ii 
he  would  oblige  me  with  a  glass  of  water.  As 
soon  as  1  saw  his  face  it  struck  me  as  very 
familiar,  but  at  the  moment  could  not  tell 
when  or  where  I  had  seen  him,  but  on  his  return 
if  flashed  over  me  in  an  instant  that  it  was 
Captain  Martin,  our  old  prison  Captain  of 
Co.umuia,  and  at  once  addressed  thai  as  such. 
His  surprise  at  bei  i  g  addressed  by  name  by  a 
perfect  stranger  in  his  town  can  ue  better 
imagined  than  told,  but  when  he  tound  who  I 
was  and  that  1  had  been  one  of  the  Yankees  at 
Columbia,  his  joy  was  as  great  as  his  surprise. 
He  had  me  go  tothe  house,  introduced  to  his  fam- 
ily, and  for  the  eight  months  we  remained  at 
the  Court  House  our  friendship  and  acquaint- 


244 


STORIES   OP   OUR   SOLDIERS. 


ance  was  unbroken.  I  found  him  a  true,  poi- 
ished  but  unfortunate  Southern  gentleman ; 
bad  lost  all  Lin  had  07  the  war  and  was  trying: 
to  make  the  best  of  ihe  situation;  was  then 
teaching  school  in  the  neighborhood. 

Our  command  was  divided  into  five  different 
towns,  witu  headquarters  at  Anderson,  it  ueing 
the  largest  lovvn  in  our  suo-Uistrict,  and  1  waa 
appointed  Assistant  Adjutant  General  of  th« 
district  by  General  Ames  at  Columbia,  to  make 
contracts  with  the  planters  and  freediuen 
throughout  the  region  where  our  command  was 
located,  also  to  do  other  duties  ot  a  similar  na- 
ture, ibis,  of  course,  threw  me  into  direct 
contact  with  all  the  freed  men  and  planters  for 
many  miles  around,  and  scores  ot  negroes  whom 
I  had  met  only  a  few  mouths  before.  Then  I 
was  a  refugee  (not  Irom  justice,  however),  try- 
ing to  hide  my  face  from  anything  out  a  olack 
one.  Now  how  changed.  Was  in  temporary 
authority,  making  contracts  with  these  same 
loyal,  faithful  and  true  blue  negroes.  Seven 
months  before  I  was  avoiding  the  white  man's 
house  and  presence  as  a  pestilence:  now  I  was 
invited  to  share  the  best  his  house  afforded,  not 
out  01  respect  to  me  or  the  Government  I  repre- 
sented, only  for  policy's  sake,  trusting  to  make 
a  favorable  impression  by  his  seeming  whole- 
souled  hospitality,  so  I  would  make  his  contract 
with  the  freedman  favorable  to  him  rather  than 
the  blacks.  Some  of  the  freedmen  did  i,ot  re- 
member me,  while  on  the  contrary  very  many 
did,  and  some  of  the  latter  were  alraid,  even  at 
that  late  day,  to  have  the  fact  made  known  to 
their  lormer  masters  that  they  had  ever  met  me 
before ;  afraid  that  these  men  might  still  do 
them  harm  for  their  acts  of  humanity  to  us 
escauing  Union  prisoners.  It  was.  indeed, 
strange  to  be  found  sitting  at  the  table  as  an  in- 
vited guest,  partaking  of  the  hospitality  of 
these  Southern  rebels,  on  whose  plantations  I 
had  skulked  and  whose  hens'  roost  ha  I  been 
rob  be  i  to  fee  i  us.  and  some  of  the  very  fame 
darkies  were  waiting  on  the  table  whose  hands 
had  brought  us  food  in  the  woods  or  thicket  of 
some  damp  and  cold  swamp  where  we  were  be- 
ing hid.  We  severally  held  our  tongues,  I  not 
from  fear  of  wounding  the  feelings  of  the 
planter  but  to  save  the  negroes  any  future  an- 
noyance, although  I  think  they  were  needlessly 
alarmed. 

We  remained  in  this  location  until  the  follow- 
ing April,  some  eight  months,  and  among  our 
duties  was  this— to  assist  all  destitute  loyal 
Southern  people,  in  the  way  of  issuing  Govern- 
men  t  rations,  but  they  must  first  prove  their 
loyalty  as  a  necessary  requisite. 

One  day  in  August  l  was  sitting  alone  in  my 
quarters  when  my  orderly  said  there  was  an 
Old  lady  outside  who  wanted  to  nee  the  Yankee 
officer  who  was  giving  food  to  loyal  whites.  I 
•aid,  'Admit  her,"  and  a  true  type  of  a  poor 
white  Southern  woman  came  in.  She  told  me 
her  wants,  said  she  was  very  poor,  had  no  hus- 
band, and.  as  the  Government  was  helping  such 
as  she,  had  applied  also,  as  she  considered  she 
was  as  loyal  as  any  man  or  woman  in  Anderson 
district  My  next  question  was.  "  What  have 


you  got  to  prove  all  this?  "  and  she  at  once  took 
from  the  bosom  of  her  dress  a  neatly-folded 
paper  for  my  examination.  As  soon  as  my  eyes 
dropped  on  ttie  paper  the  writing  looke i  famil- 
iar, and  looking  in  a  second  at  the  bottom  of 
the  sheet  saw  my  own  name  where  1  had  placed 
it  the  Decemo«r  before.  As  soon  as  I  recovered 
from  my  surprise  1  turned  to  the  lady  an  i  said, 
"Madam,  di  i  you  ever  see  me  before?"  and  she 
said  she  reckoned  not  I  then  asked  her  if  she 
remembered  feeding  four  Yankee  officers  the 
winter  before,  and  then  taking  them  to  the  out- 
liers' camp  in  the  mountains.  She  said  she 
aid.  I  then  said,  "  Mrs.  Prince,  I  am  one  of 
those  Yankees,  the  one  that  wrote  that  letter." 
She  said.  "Good  Godl  Are  you  the  little  Lieu- 
tenant?" I  answered  that  it  was  indeed  so. 
Then  there  WHS  a  scene.  I  do  not  know  who 
was  the  most  affected,  for  to  tell  the  truth  I 
was  "all  broke  up."  for  I  had  yet  a  tender 
memory  for  this  woman  and  her  acts  of  kind- 
ness. 

She  told  me  that  the  men  who  had  started 
through  the  mountains  with  us.  and  had  turned 
back  on  account  of  snow  and  Indians  had  been 
met  by  the  guard  and  many  of  them  killed. 
Those  that  went  to  Kuoxville  joined  the 
Union  army.  Some  had  been  killed  in  late 
engagements  ot  the  war,  and  the  balance 
were  at  home,  where  they  would  no  doubt 
be  glad  to  see  me,  although  since  their 
return  from  the  Union  lines  some  of  them 
had  been  murdered  by  the  returning  rebel 
soldiers  when  they  learned  they  had  joined  the 
Union  army.  Mrs.  Prince  went  to  her  home  in 
the  mountains  with  a  mule-load  of  Governs 
ment  rations,  full  more  than  the  allowance  of  a 
family  much  larger  than  hers;  but  it  was  a  case 
that  made  unusual  demands  upon  my  feelings 
and  disposition,  and  I  simply  gratified  my  in* 
clination  to  return  good  with  same  in  kind  and 
compound  interest  included. 

I  also  visited  that  section  a  short  time  after 
with  a  detachment  of  United  Mates  cavalry, 
sent  me  irom  Columbia  for  the  purpose,  as  It 
was  not  safe  even  then  for  a  United  status  offi- 
cer to  be  so  far  away  from  his  command  with- 
out a  strong  escort 

We  remained  at  this  section  until  April,  1886, 
a  twelvemonth  after  the  close  of  the  war,  when 
we  were  mustered  out  at  Hart's  Island,  New 
York  harbor;  and  as  I  laid  aside  my  blue  army 
uniform,  worn  for  five  years  with  the  exception 
of  about  seven  weeks,  I  felt  that  the  experience 
I  had  had.  although  it  had  cost  me  some  priva- 
tions, was  not  dearly  bought.  There  have  been 
many  cases  of  prison  life  that  have  been  far 
more  thrilling,  and  where  suffering  has  been 
far  more  severe,  but  I  think  not  many  cases 
like  mine,  where  a  prisoner  who  has  made  a 
successful  escape  has,  through  the  chances  of 
war.  been  able  to  attain  visit  and  remain  in  tem- 
porary authority  at  the  scenes  of  his  long  and 
weary  tramp,  and  be  aide  to  return  some  of  the 
many  favors  and  heroic  acts  of  kindness  done 
by  the  black  men  of  the  South  and  a  very  few 
of  the  loyal  whites. 

H.  A.  JoHiisoir. 


LIEUTENANT    HANNIBAL    A.    JOHNSON. 


RED  RIVER  EXPEDITION. 


At  times  in  conversation  with  some  of  my 
friends  I  hare  mentioned  some  personal  experi- 
ences and  reminiscences  of  the  Bed  River  cam- 
oaigru 

These  stories  amused  them  and  promoted 
some  ot  them,  I  fear,  to  speak  to  Mr.  Ropes  and 
induce  him  to  ask  me  to  give  the  Society  a  pa- 
per on  the  Red  River  Expedition. 

I  shall  not  bore  you  with  many  comparisons 
M  to  the  statements  of  different  authorities  as 
to  whether  this  or  that  command  had  one  or 
two  men  more  or  less,  or  whether  an 
•rder  was  Riven  at  10  o'clock  or  two  or  five 
minutes  past  10:  and,  indeed,  in  this  campaign. 
it  did  not  make  much  difference  when  an  order 
was  given,  but  if  I  can  keep  your  in- 
terest for  half  an  hour  with  an  account  of  the 
march  and  of  my  personal  and  more  or  less 
trivial  experiences,  I  beg  you  will  not  think  I 
was  unimpressed  by  the  tragic,  or  unmindful  of 
the  seriou*  events  which  transpired. 

The  expedition  was  such  a  jumble  or  success 
a*d  failure,  of  advance  and  retreat,  of  co-opera- 
tion between  land  and  naval  forces  and  the 
want  of  it.  of  hurrying  orders  from  without  and 
delays  within,  of  insubordination  and  disci- 
pline, of  opportunities  made  use  of  and  neg- 
lected,and  of  such  contradictory  statements  that 
IX  a  man  were  to  study  the  subject  for  years  and 
digest  all  the  information  and  documents  he 
could  obtain,  he  could  not  get  at  the  truth.  I 
•hall  try  to  observe  one  of  General  Banks's 
rules  during  his  military  career,  not  to  criticise 
anyone 

War  Records,  Vol.  xxxiv,  p.  216,  Gen.  Bank.s's 
report.  Series  1,  Part  L  "  During  my  term  of 
service  it  has  been  an  invariable  rule,  from 
which  I  have  never  departed,  to  forbear  the  ex- 
pression of  opinion  or  complaint  upon  the  offi- 
cial actions  of  others." 


When  Gen.  Grant  took  command  of  the 
armies  of  the  United  States  he  determined  to 
have  a  simultaneous  movement  of  them  all  In 
the  spring  of  1864.  He  sent  to  Gen.  Banks  a 
copy  of  Order  No.  1,  assuming  command  of  the 
armies  of  the  United  States,  an  I  also  the  fol- 
lowing order: 

Item,  p.  610,  Gen.  Grant's  report.  Series  1. 
PartIL 

NASHVILLE,  Tenn.,  Mar.  16. 1864. 

(Received  Grand  Ecore  26tn.) 
Major  General  BanJcs,  Commanding  Department  ef  the 

Gulf,  JHew  Orleans: 

Enclosed  herewith  I  send  you  copy  of  General  Orders 
No.  1  assuming  command  of  the  arm  • .  It  Is  my  Inten- 
tion to  establish  headquarters  for  the  present  with  the 
army  of  the  Potomac.  I  have  not  fully  determined  up«n 
a  plan  of  campaign  for  this  spring,  but  -will  do  so  before 
the  return  of  our  veteran  troops  to  the  field.  It  will,  how- 
ever, be  my  desire  to  have  all  parts  of  the  army,  or  rather 
all  the  armies,  act  as  much  in  concert  as  possible.  For 
this  reason  I  now  write  yon,  for  I  regard  the  success  of 
your  present  move  of  great  importance  In  reducing 
the  number  of  troops  necessary  for  the 
protection  of  the  navigation  of  the  Mississippi 
River.  It  Is  also  important  that  Shreveport  be  taken  as 
soon  as  possible.  This  done,  send  Brig.  General  A.  J. 
Smith  with  his  command  bask  to  Memphis  as  soon  as 
possible.  Its  force  will  be  necessary  for  movements  east 
of  the  Mississippi.  Should  you  find  that  the  taking  of 
Shreveport  will  occupy  ten  or  fifteen  days  more  time  than 
Gen.  Sherman  gave  his  troops  to  be  absent  from  Ms 
command,  yon  will  send  them  back  at  the  time  specified 
in  his  note  of  the  of  March  even  it  it  leads  to  the 
abandonment  of  the  main  object  of  your  expedition,  but. 
should  your  expedition  prove  successful,  hold  Shreveport 
and  the  Red  river  with  such  force  as  you  may  deem 
necessary  and  return  the  balance  of  your  troops  to  the 
neighborhood  of  New  Orleans.  »  »  *  *  » 

I  have  directed  Gen.  Steele  to  make  a  real  move  as 
suggested  by  you  instead  of  a  demonstration  as  he  thought 
advisable. 

Mr.  Seward,  or  some  one  else,  thought  the 
liag  ought  to  float  over  the  State  of  Texas,  and 
so  Gen.  Grant  directed  Banks  in  Louisiana  and 
Steele  in  Arkansas  to  advance  simultaneously 
on  Shreveport,  which  is  in  the  northwestern 
part  of  Louisiana,  near  the  Texas  line. 

Another  object  to  be   accomplished    besides- 


RED    RIVER    EXPEDITION. 


247 


raising  the  flag  In  Texas  was  said,  at  the  time, 
to  be  the  obtaining  of  cotton  for  oar  mills  at 
Lowell  and  Lawrence.  Cotton  was  worth 
nearly  two  dollars  a  pound  and  was  almost 
unobtainable.  The  authorities  at  Washington 
and  Richmond  had  agreed,  it  was  said, 
to  have  th«  cotton  brought  down  near 
our  projected  line  of  march,  and  we.  or 
rather  cotton  buyers,  were  to  pay  for  it  in  green- 
backs, not  in  gold,  our  Government  thinking 
that  the  cotton  would  do  us  more  good  than  the 
greenbacks  would  the  rebels.  Whether  this 
plan  was  arranged  or  not,  there  were  civilians 
who  accompanied  our  headquarters  who  bad 
large  amounts  of  greenbacks  with  them,  which 
they  never  parted  with  for  cotton  to  my  knowl- 
edge. 

This  mixture  of  war  and  trade  was  very  de- 
moralizing, and  the  action  of  the  navy  caused 
the  rebel  military  authorities  to  burn  all  the 
cotton  that  they  thought  might  fall  into  our 
hands.  We  marched  sometimes  for  days 
through  burning  cotton  and  cotton  storehouses, 
and  sometimes  the  heat  was  intense.  So  the 
mills  got  but  little  cotton  ana  the  rebels  got  no 
greenbacks. 

As  you  probably  know.  Gen.  Banks,  with  the 
co-operation  of  Admiral  Porter  and  a  powerful 
fleet,  was  to  advance  on  Shreveport  from  the 
southeast  along  the  line  of  the  Red  River  in 
Louisiana,  and  Gen.  Steele,  from  Little  Rock, 
was  to  make  a  simultaneous  advance  on  the 
same  point  from  the  northeast,  and  they  were 
to  meet  at  Shreveport.  The  enemy  could  not 
attend  to  both  of  them  at  once,  and  one  or 
both  would  probably  get  to  the  rendezvous.  You 
will  see  that  neither  of  them  ever  reached 
Shreveport.  There  were  at  least  three  elements 
of  uncertainty  and  doubt  that  helped  to  make 
the  expedition  a  failure: 

First.  The  appointed  rendezvous  within  the 
enemy's  lines  at  a  place  in  his  possession. 

Second.  The  treacherous  character  of  the 
river,  on  which  we  must  rely  for  communica- 
tion an  I  transportation,  and  which  muht  run 
away  at  any  minute  and  leave  the  vessels  high 
and  drv,  as  it  di  I  later  on. 

Third.  The  partiallii  independent  command 
of  Gen.  A.  J.  Smith,  woo  would  make  no  re- 
ports, at  the  time  or  afterward,  to  Gen.  Banks, 
and  who  was  continually  threatening  to  leave. 

Practically  the  last  name  I  element  was  only 
a  worry,  for  Gen.  Smith's  troops  under  Mower 
and  Kirby  Smith  seconded  all  Gen.  Ba'iks's 
efforts  and  fought  splendidly  an'l  successfully. 

JSuch  were  some  of  the  elements  of  failure  of 
this  ill-starred  campaign  before  its  commence- 
ment there  were  plenty  of  others  after  it  had 
begun.  It  seemed  to  me  that  any  life  lost  in 
battle  west  of  the  Mississippi  River  after  Jan- 
uary. 1864.  was  an  unnecessary  sacrifice,  and 
that  the  real  theatre  of  war  was  east  of  the 
river,  and  the  operations  west  of  it  only  a  side 
show.  1  expresse  1  this  opinion  to  Gen.  JJwight, 
who  was  to  command  a  brigade  in  the  First  Di- 
vision of  the  Nineteenth  Corps,  and  he  replied 
that  he  could  not  say  as  to  the  general  question 
Of  the  wisdom  of  a  campaign  in  Texas,  but  that 


an  exoedition,  organized  as  our's  was,  could  not 
succeed ;  that  we  should  be  driven  back  before 
reaching  Shreveport,  and  that  he  should  com- 
mand the  rear  guard.  I  wrote  this  prophecy  on 
paper  and  sent  it  home  in  a  letter  to  my  father 
before  we  starte  I,  so  as  to  have  it  on  record.  It 
all  turned  out  true,  even  to  his  commanding 
the  rear  guard,  which  he  did  with  his  brigade 
from  Sabine  Cross  Roads  to  Pleasant  Hill. 


Shreveport  is  about  330  miles  from  New 
Orleans  and  about  200  miles  from  Little  Rock. 

The  only  route  of  communication  between 
Gen.  Banks  and  Gen.  Steele  was  around  the 
rear  by  way  of  the  Mississippi  and  Arkansas 
Rivers.  That  is,  if  Gen.  Banks  wanted  to  com- 
municate with  Steele  he  had  to  send  an  officer 
down  the  Re  i  River,  up  the  Mississippi  and 
then  up  the  Arkansas,  and  then  the  messenger 
must  nnu  Steele  if  he  could. 

The  Louisiana  part  of  the  expedition  was  to 
rendezvous  at  Alexandria  on  March  19. 

General  BauKs's  troops,  consisting  of  the 
Nineteenth  Corps,  the  Cavalry  Corps,  and  de- 
tach menu  from  the  Thirteenth  Corps  all  under 
the  command  of  General  William  B.  Franklin, 
marched  by  land  to  Alexandria  from  ihe  town 
of  Franklin,  La.,  while  the  navy  under  Admi- 
ral Porter  and  General  A.  J.  Smith's  command, 
from  the  Sixteenth  and  Seventeenth  Corps, 
came  by  water  from  Vtcksburg.  General  Banks 
with  his  staff  aud  some  civilians  came  by  water 
from  New  Orleans.  The  day  of  rendezvous 
at  Alexandria  was  to  be  the  19Ui  of 
March.  1864.  General  Banks's  troops  of  all 
arms  were  25,000  men,  with  76  pieces  01  artil- 
lery; Gen.  Smith's  were  10.0OO,  with  14  pieces 
of  artillery,  making  36,000  on  the  He  i  River  it- 
self, while  Steule  was  approaching  from  Little 
Rock,  which  place  he  left  on  March  23.  with 
about  10.0OO  men  under  his  coin  man  i,  some  of 
whom  joined  him  at  Arkadelphia  after  e  had 
started,  so  that  there  were  in  all  45. uOU  Union 
soldiers  approaching  Shreveport.  (Vol.  XXXlV., 
Series  1.  Part  1,  War  Recor  .s,  p.  167.)  io  op- 
pose these  trooos  Gen.  Kirby  Smith  had  about 
24,000  men;  17.000  under  Gen.  Dick  Taylor  (a 
son  of  Zachary  Taylor),  in  Louisiana,  and  7000 
in  Arkansas,  under  Gen.  sterling  Price. 


On  the  way  to  Alexandria  Gen.  A.  J.  Smith 
had  captured  Fort  de  Russy,  on  the  Red  River, 
about  25  miles  i>elow  Alexandria,  with  its  gar- 
rison of  300  men  and  10  guns,  and  whi.e  at 
Alexandria,  to  keep  his  hand  in,  Gen.  Mower 
ha  i  surprised  and  captured  without  the  loss  of 
a  man  or  the  tiring  of  a  gun  the  rebel  Col.  Vin- 
cent at  Henderson's  Hill,  25  miles  eyond  Alex- 
andria, on  the  way  to  bhreveport.  The 
prisoners  amounted  to  275  men,  with 
60  horses  and  four  guns.  These  captures 
occurred  i>etore  Gen.  Banks's  arrival.  At 
this  time  Charles  Le  Doux  Elgee,  of  the  class  of 
1856,  at  Harvard,  an  at  I  on  Gen.  Dick  Taylor's 
staff,  rode  into  the  camp  at  Henderson's  Hill, 
not  knowing  it  had  changed  owners,  and  was 
oautured.  Mr.  Rooes  will  remember  Elgee  as  a 
popular  man  in  college  ana  a  first-rate  fellow 
(Vol.  XXXI V.,  Series  1,  Part  1.  p.  167.) 


248 


STORIES    OF    OUR    SOLDIERS. 


Th-  naval  forces  under  the  command  ol  Ad- 
mi.  Porter  consisted  of  19  ironclads. mounting 
16  guns  and  carrying,  1  suppose,  about.  15OO 
men. 

(jeuwral  Smith  and  Admiral  Porter  left  Vicks- 
burg  on  tne  lOih  of  March,  on  the  14ta  Smith 
captured  Fort  lie  Ku.ssy.  and  arrived  vMth 
Aumirul  Porter  at  Au-xan  ria  on  tne  18th  of 
Ala  re  n,  one  day  ahead  ot  me  appointed  time  of 
rendezvous.  Br.gadier  General  Lee.  with  tue 
cavalry  01  B  miss's  army,  arrived  on  tne  19th, 
anu  the  infantry  on  the  25th  an  1  2t>tii. 
Althou.cn  General  banks  was  late  iu  arriving 
at  Alexandria,  yet  this  ioss  01  time  was  of 
no  couseaueuce,  for  the  water  in  tue 
river  rose  so  slowly  that  It 
was  not  till  April  3,  fifteen  days 
after  the  appointed  time,  that  the  last  of  the 
twelve  gunuoais  and  tneir  transport^  pa-sea 
the  rapids  above  Alexandria.  Several  of  the 
large  transports  drew  too  much  water,  and 
these,  witli  a  few  gunboats,  remained  at  Alex- 
andria below  the  falis.  All  the  -.u  .plies  had  to 
be  landed,  loaded  into  wagons,  hauled  around 
the  falis  and  reshipoed,  so  that  depots  nad  to 
be  established  in  tue  town  as  well  as  above  the 
falls,  and  urover's  division  of  the  Nineteenth 
Corps,  4OOO  strong,  were  ;e.t  to  protect  the 
•tore*  and  the  Garry.  (History  of  the  Nine- 
teenth Army  Corps  by  Irwin. 

While  here  one  of  tho>e  amusing  affairs 
which  showed  the  want  ol  ready  co-operat.on 
ami  iriundhueas  oeiween  Porter  aud  Bangs  oc- 
curred. As  the  stores  ot  penshaulo  article!) 
were  landed.  Gen.  Grover  saw  lUat  they  must 
be  put  unier  cover  or  they  might  be  spoiled. 
lie  found  a  large  convenient  s  orenouse  on  the 
levee,  but  it  was  more  or  lean  occupied 
by  several  stallions.  He  turned  out  the 
stallions  and  put,  in  his  stores.  Ihe  stal- 
lions belonged  to  Admiral  Porter,  and  he  sent 
a  orce  01  sailors,  who  put  out  the 
•tores  and  put  back  tue  stal.ions.  General 
Grover  then  sent  a  squad  of  soldiers,  who,  in 
turn,  put  out  the  stallions.  I'uen  Admiral 
Porter  sent  some  marines  with  a  howitzer,  and 
put  the  horses  iu  a^ain-  Grover  then  sent  a 
company  of  infantry  to  replace  his  stores,  and 
itseeme  I  as  if  all  tne  troops  would  ultimately 
brcoino  engaged.  Tne  matter  was  liualiy  re- 
ferred to  Gen.  banks,  who  arranged  it  in  some 
way  which  probably  suite  i  neither  party. 
Sieele  left  Little  Koek  on  Marcn  23  with  about 
10.00O  men  to  meet  ban IKS  at  Stireveoort,  winch 
is  a  point,  as  1  have  said,  wumu  the  enemy's 
country  and  held  uy  the  euemv. 

Gen.  Banks,  on  whose  staff  I  was  an  Assistant 
Medical  Director,  had  come  by  water  from  Now 
Or  eans  to  Alexandria,  wnere  he  had  arrived  on 
March  24. 

A.  J.  Smith's  command  had  been  lent  to 
Ban KS  lor  30  days.  His  time  would  expire  on 
the  It),  h  of  April,  and  it  was  not  until  the  third 
Of  the  month  that  the  water  was  huh  enough 
lor  the  navy  to  procne  I.  Gen.  Grant  wa.-.  will- 
ing to  extend  Gen.  Smith's  time  by  16  days,  bat 


If  Shreveport  was  not  taken,  certainly  by  the 
26:  n  of  April,  A.  J.  Smith  was  to  be  sent  back, 
if  the  expedition  had  to  be  abandoned. 

1  have  already  read  to  you  Gen.  Grant's  order 
on  this  subject.  This  was,  as  Irwin  expresses 
it  in  his  history  of  the  Nineteenth  Army  Corps, 
putting  the  expedition  "in  irons,"  for  not  only 
was  there  the  treacherous  river  to  contend 
with,  which  might  run  dry  at  any  moment  and 
leave  the  vessel  stranded,  but  th  re  was  the 
semi-control  of  Gen.  Smith's  lorces  and  the 
fact  that  they  might  leave  at  a  critical 
moment.  General  banks  had  protested  against 
the  expedition  ana  aid  not  beiieve  In 
it,  but  he  had  practically  been  told 
that  the  troops  woul  I  march,  and  that  he  could 
go  with  them  or  remain  at  Mew  Orleans.  Here 
be  was  at  Alexandria  with  a  naval  commander 
who  did  not  amnatn  with  him.  and  with  a  part 
ol  his  command  hardly  recognizing  his  author- 
ity and  threatening  to  leave  at  any  moment. 
However,  he  decided  to  go  ahead.  The  troops 
under  Franklin  went  by  land,  and  General 
Banks  and  staff  went  by  water  in  the  steam  r 
Black  Hawk  to  Grand  Ecore,  60  miles  from 
Alexandria. 

Gen.  Banks  you  all  know.  Of  ereat  personal 
bravery,  he  rarely  succeeded  in  actual  combat 
in  equaling  his  enemies  iu  point  of  numbers,  as 
at  Cedar  Mountain,  in  the  Shenan  loan  Valley. 
and  at  Sa  ine  Cross  Koads.  Admiral  Porter  co- 
operated better  with  Generals  Grant  ana  Slier- 
man  than  he  did  with  Generals  from  civil  life, 
like  banks  and  Butler.  Major  General  A,  J. 
Smith  fought  whenever  he  ha  I  a  chance,  and 
was  one  of  the  best  fighters  it  was  my  fortune 
to  see  during  the  war.  He  was  ably  seconded 
by  Major  General  Mower,  who  had  risen  iroin 
the  ranks. 

Gen.  Kmorv,  who  commanded  the  Nineteenth 
Corps,  in  actual  combat  was  excellent,  but  he 
was  rather  prone  to  ti-rnt  his  battles  beforehand 
ami  sometimes  tired  his  troops  with  too  much 
precaution. 

Gen.  Dwight,  who  now  commando  1  a  brigade, 
but  was  later  Chief  of  Staff,  was  a  brother  of 
Major  Wilder  Dwight,  killed  at  Antietam.  He 
had  been  lor  two  years  at  W«st  Point  in  the 
same  class  with  Gen.  Sheridan.  He  was  a  fas- 
cinating romnanion  in  conversation  and  the 
troops  be  commanded  were  always  steady  and 
never  retired.  1  remember  how  well  his  divi- 
soin  stoo  i  at  the  battle  of  Winchester,  Sept. 
19.  1864,  where  the  line  of  dead  bodies, 
along  a  fence  they  hell,  attested  iheir  stead- 
fastness. On  General  Banks's  staff  in  this 
expedition  were  Gen.  Charles  P.  Sto.ie,  Chief  of 
Staff  when  the  expedition  starte  I.  a  gentleman, 
and  one  who  had  already  suffered  hard  and  un- 
deserve  treatment  from  Secretary  Stan  ton 
during  the  war,  ami  was  destined  to  suffer  still 
more;  Major  George  B.  Drake.  Adjutant  Gen- 
eral; Major  Lie  er.  Judge  Advocate,  (now 
Judge  A  ivocate  General  of  the  Army);  Lieut 
C.  S.  Sar-reut.  now  the  head  of  the  U.  S.  Forest- 
try  Commission  and  ol  the  Arnold  Aboretum; 


SURGEON   JOHN    ROMANS. 


250 


STORIES    OF   OUR   SOLDIERS. 


Cantaln  Schuyler  Crosby,  Gen.  John  C.  Palfrey. 
Chief  Engineer:  Lieut.  Beebe  of  the  Ordinance, 
a  very  gallant  officer,  were  some  of  those  that  I 
remember  very  distinctly. 

Colonel  Clark,  senior  aid,  always  appeared 
with  a  map  of  tue  ground  immediately  after  an 
action :  two  other  ai  ;s  were  German  officers  who 
spoke  the  English  language  with  difficulty. 
From  Grand  Ecore  Gen.  Banks  went  with  the 
troops  of  the  first  division  Nineteenth  Army 
Corps  and  the  cavalry  under  Gen.  Lee,  with  de- 
tachments of  the  Thirteenth  Corps  under  Gen. 
Ransom,  all  under  the  immediate  command  of 
Gen.  FrankJin.  With  Gen-  Banks's  troops 
marched  Gen.  A.  J.  Smith,  from  Sherman's 
army,  with  Gen.  Mower's  division,  and  with 
Admiral  Sorter  by  water  went  Gen.  Kiroy 
Smith  on  transports  with  a  part  of  A.  J.  Smith's 
command. 

On  April  3  the  army  left  Grand  Ecore  on  its 
march  to  Shreveport,  with  the  cavalry  and 
mounted  infantry  in  the  advance.  Gen.  Banks 
and  staff  left  Grand  Ecore  on  the  afternoon  of 
the  7th  and  arrived  at  the  camp  of  the  head- 
quarters of  the  Nineteenth  Corus,  near  Pleas- 
ant Hill,  in  the  evening,  after  an  uninterrupted 
ride  of  36  miles.  1  remember  that  Gen.  Banks's 
horse  was  the  only  one  tnat  fell  down  on  the 
road.  All  the  trains  had  started  and  our  head- 
quarter wagons  left  at  the  same  time  that  we 
did,  and,  as  we  went  at  a  gallop  and  they 
at  a  walk,  we  never  saw  them  again 
until  we  met  them  on  our  retreats 
and  we  were  dependent  on  the  bounty  or 
others  for  our  food  and  lo  Igine,  but,  as  we  were 
in  the  saddle  day  and  night  for  the  next  three 
days,  we  did  not  need  any  lodging.  As  I  had 
not  i>een  on  horseback  for  ten  years,  I  was  pretty 
stiff  after  this  long:,  straight  ride  of  35 
miles,  uut  I  went  supperless  to  bed  and  slept 
splendidly,  and  was  surpised  to  find  that  I  was 
not  sore  when  I  mounted  my  horse  the  next 
day.  The  first  thing  to  be  done  by  me  on  April 
8  was  to  bet;  some  break  fast,  and  I  got  a  first-rate 
one  from  General  JJwighu 

The  roa  i  by  which  we  were  marching  leaves 
the  river  at  Grand  Ecore  and  soon  plunges  into 
dense  woods.  It  was  the  regular  most  traveled 
route. 

How  this  paper  came  to  be  written  ia  best  explained  In 
the  following  letter: 

Dear  Doctor— I  write  at  the  organ  of  the  Executive 
Committee  of  the  Military  Historical  Society  to  ask  yon 
to  give  us  a  paper  on  the  Bed  River  expedition.  I  want  1C 
to  be  chiefly  a  personal  narrative,  at  least  (hat  seems  to 
us  to  be  the  most  attractive  form  in  which  It  could  pos- 
sibly be  out.  Your  recollection  of  men  and  things  is  so 
vivid  and  your  descriptions  are  so  graphic  that  we  feel  we 
should  be  very  fortunate  in  having  snch  a  pauer.  Could 
you  have  this  ready  for  as  the  first  Tuesday  in  January? 
Sincerely  Yours, 

JOHN  C.  ROPBS. 

Dr.  John  Iloraana  was  graduated  from  Harvard  la  1858, 
and  received  the  title  of  M.  D.  In  1862. 

January  14  of  the  same  year  he  was  made  an  Assistant 
Surgeon  of  Uie  United  States  Navy  and  was  ordered  to 


the  U.  8.  S.  Aroostook.  After  a  short  cruise  in  search  of, 
the  disabled  U.  S.  8.  Vermont  he  was  engaged  on  the  Vir- 
ginia rivers,  from  May  to  August;  he  participated  in  the 
battle  of  Fort  Darling,  Va.,  and  later  co-operated  with 
the  army  at  the  battle  of  Malvern  Hill,  In  the  same  State. 
His  resignation  was  offered  September  16. 

November  22  the  future  famous  Surgeon  was  made  an 
Assistant  in  the  army.  He  sailed  from  New  York  for 
New  Orleans  in  the  following  February,  was  assigned  for 
duty  In  St.  James  Hospital,  and  In  the  autumn  was  given 
charge  of  the  hospital. 

He  was  on  Gen.  Banks's  staff  In  the  Red  River  expedi- 
tion, and  participated  in  the  Battles  of  Sablne  Cross 
Roads  and  Pleasant  HilL  Temporarily  he  waa  Medical 
Director  of  the  army  engaged  in  this  expedition. 

In  May  Dr.  Homans  returned  to  N'ew  Orleans  and  two 
months  later  was  ordered  North,  arriving  at  Washington. 
In  the  army  of  the  Shenandoah  his  position  was  Surgeon 
in-Chief  of  the  flrat  division,  Nineteenth  Army  Corps,  and 
in  the  Shenandoah  Valley  engaged  in  the  conflict  with 
Early's  army.  Dr.  Homans  was  at  the  battles  of  Win- 
chester, Va.,  and  Cedar  Creek.  After  that  he  was  medical 
inspector  of  the  middle  military  division  on  the  staff  of 
General  Sheridan  in  November,  and  afterwards  became 
the  acting  medical  director  of  the  army  of  the  Shenan- 
doah, finally  resigning  the  28th  of  May,  1866. 

Hla  career  since  the  war  and  the  great  fame  he  has 
achieved  as  a  surgeon  need  not  be  more  than  briefly  men- 
tioned here. 

After  returning  from  the  War  Surgeon  Homans  went  to 
Europe  for  three  years,  returning  to  Boston  to  the  prac- 
tice of  his  profession.  He  was  Surgeon  at  the  Boston  Dis- 
pensary, the  Children's  Hospital  and  the  Carney 
Hospital,  and  Is  now  a  visiting  surgeon  of  the 
Massachusetts  General  Hospital.  He  is  a  lecturer  In 
Harvard  University.  For  the  last  18  years  his  name  has 
been  especially  associated  with  abdominal  surgery.  He 
Is  a  member  of  the  Boston  Society  for  Me<iical  Improve- 
ment, and  of  the  Military  Historical  Society  of  Massa- 
chusetts. He  has  contributed  various  papers  to  the  dif- 
ferent medical  journals  of  the  country. 

Why  we  took  the  road  through  the  woods  in- 
stead of  the  one  following  the  river  I  do  not 
know.  On  the  river  road  we  should  have  had 
plenty  of  drinking  water  ana  should  have  been 
near  the  eun  boats  in  case  they  had  needed 
our  assistance.  and  also  they  would 
have  been  a  protection  to  oar- 
selves  in  case  of  reverse  and  de- 
feat. There  were  probably  obvious  reasons, 
such  as  swamps  or  impassable  marshes  and  law 
lands  or  something  of  tne  kind  that  made  our 
engineers  choose  tlie  road  via  Pleasant  Hill  and 
Mansfield,  and  this  is  the  usually  traveled  route, 
I  believe.  This  road  by  which  we  marched 
and  the  order  of  our  march  were  the  causes 
of  our  downfall.  Kirby  Smith  had  but  a  >out 
18.OOO  men  to  oppose  over  30,000,  and  if  we  had 
kept  the  troops  together  we  should  hare  been 
invinciole,  ana  could  nave  gone  anywhere.  At 


RED    RIVER    EXPEDITION. 


251 


«ne  head  of  the  column  wa>  Gen.  Lee,  command- 
ing the  cavalry  of  4000  men,  half  of  which  were 
mounted  infantry.  Next  came  a  long  cavalry 
wagon  train,  then  some  artillery,  and  then,  sev- 
eral miles  behind  these  wagons,  came  the  Thir- 
teenth cor  pa  of  about  5000  men,  commanded  by 
Gen.  Kausom;  then  more  commissary  and  ord- 
nance wagons,  then  the  First  Division  of  the 
Nineteenth  Corps,  about  10,000  men;  then  its 
train  of  wagons  and  artillery;  then  Gen.  Smith's 
troops,  10,000  men,  and  behind  them  the  Corps 
d'Afrique.  There  was  a  distance  of  about 
nine  miles  between  the  cavalry  anil  the 
Ninteeuiii  Corps,  more  than  thU  distance  be- 
tween that  corps  and  Gen.  Smith,  with  the  in- 
tervals tilled  with  wagons  and  artillery.  All 
this  in  a  narrow,  sunken  road  through  a  pine 
forest,  called  in  the  rebel  reports  "a  howling 
wilderness  "—a  road  more  like  a  broad,  deep, 
red-colored  ditch  tliau  anything  else,  and 
one  where  it  was  impossible  to  turn  a 
wagon  around,  except  at  intervals  of  several 
miles  where  there  might  happen  to  be  a  clear- 
ins.  Gen.  Lee  protested  at  having  the  train 
pushed  up  in  front,  but  Gen.  Franklin  kept 
sending  orders  to  shove  it  ahead  and  sret  it  out 
of  his  way,  and  it  was  shovea  ahead.  In  order 
to  exonerate  Gen.  Lee,  who  has  been  blamed 
for  having  his  trains  in  the  advance.  I  will  read 
from  his  report  (War  Records,  vol.  xxxiv..  pan 
1,  DP.  468-464). 


"In  view  of  the  loss  of  the  train  of  my  com- 
mand, a  loss  which  has  provoked  some  criti- 
cism, I  desire  in  explanation  of  its  presence,  and 
continued  presence,  to  call  attention  to  the 
order  of  General  Franklin  cited  in  this  ra- 
port,  and  received  by  me  at  5  P.  M.  on  the 
preceding  day,  directing  me  to  proceed  as  far  as 
possible  with  my  train  to  give  the  infantry 
room  on  the  following  day.  I  will  state  also 
that  I  had  frequently  requested  that  my  train 
or  the  Dulk  of  it.  might  be  left  with 
the  advance  train  of  the  infantry,  as  1  found 
it  a  great  charge  and  incumbrance  in  con- 
ducting the  advance.  Such  permission  had 
never  Deen  granted.  On  the  nigiit  of  the  7th 
in  my  dispatch  of  9  P.  M.  I  again  indicated  such 
wish,  but  without  eliciting  reply.  My  own  dis- 
patches cited  in  report  could  hardly  fail  to 
represent  the  current  con  lition  of  affairs  to  my 
superiors,  and  under  such  explicit  instructions 
ana  orders  I  can  see  little  room  left  me,  as  a 
-soldier,  for  the  exercise  of  personal  judgment. 

"About  10  A,  M.  of  the  8th  my  train  was  at  the 
creek  at  Carroll's  Mills,  five  or  six  miles  from 
the  battlefield.  While  a  halt  was  being  made 
in  constructing  a  I  ridge  General  Banks  and 
staff  and  General  Franklin  and  staff  came  up 
a_nd  observed  its  construction.  General  Frank- 
nn  directed  the  Quartermaster  of  the 
Fourth  Brieade  to  keep  the  train  well  closed. 
At  the  point  of  its  capture  during  the  progress 
of  the  battle,  this  QamrtflrnuMtor  asked  Lieut. 
<->ol.  Chandler,  Chief  Quartermaster  of  the 
army,  if  he  had  not  better  move  his  train  back. 
He  replied.  'No;  you  must  not  turn  a  single 


wagon;  if  you  lose  your  wagons,  lose  them  fac- 
ing the  enemy,' " 


Cavalry  Quartermaster  Captain  Whittiers  re- 
port confirms  this  statement  of  Gen.  Lee,  and 
in  the  latter  part  of  his  report  he  says 
(War  Records,  vol.  xxxiv.,  part  1.  P. 
464):  'I  remained  with  the  train  in  the 
position  I  described  until  the  rout  be- 
came general,  when  t  received  an  or- 
der from  Major  Howe,  Acting  Assistant 
Adjutant  General,  to  remove  my  train  to  the 
rear,  which  order  I  commenced  to  execute,  when 
I  found  the  road  in  my  rear,  at  a  point  near 
a  slough,  blockaded  by  capsized  and  stalled 
teams  belonging  to  another  brigade,  which 
made  it  wholly  impossible  to  carry  out 
the  order  further.  In  this  position  the  entire 
train  was  captured,  f  would  further  state  that 
previous  to  the  instructions  I  receive !  from 
Lieut.  Col.  Chandler.  Capt.  Hoge,  Division  Mas- 
ter, told  me  that  the  instructions  were  positive 
not  to  remove  the  train  to  the  rear.  I  am. 
Colonel,  very  respectfully. 

F.  H.  WHITTIER." 


General  Lee  was  especially  earnest  and  active 
in  pressing  on.  He  drove  the  enemy  before 
him  to  Sabine  Cross-roads,  within  four 
miles  of  Mansfield,  a  town  about  35  miles  this 
side  of  Shreveport.  Lee.  finding  himself 
hard  pressed,  sent  back  to  Franklin  for  a 
brigade  of  infantry.  This  Franklin  was  un- 
willing to  send,  because  he  feared  their  presence 
woul'l  precipitate  a  battle  before  we  were 
closed  up  and  ready,  ami  he  refused  Gen.  Lee's 
reauest,  but  Gen.  Banks  gave  a  peremptory 
order  and  a  brigade  was  sent  from  the 
Thirteenth  Corps,  and  later  another  one.  when 
the  first  was  found  unequal  to  sustaining  the 
rebel  attack.  On  the  morning  of  the  8th  of 
April  I  rode  up  to  the  front  from 
the  Nineteenth  Army  Corps  headquar- 
ters and  I  passed  nine  miles  of  wagons 
in  my  ride.  I  found  General  banks  and 
Major  Drake  in  some  open  woods  through 
which  the  uullets  were  flying.  Colonel  Clark, 
our  senior  aid.  was  standing  with  the  left  leg 
of  his  trousers  rolled  up,  and  comparing  a  scar 
he  had  with  the  le«  of  a  soldier  who  had 
just  been  shot  in  the  same  place.  He 
asked  me  to  look  at  the  two  wounds  and  say  if 
they  were  not  very  much  alike.  It  seemed  to 
me  queer,  and  1  did  not  pay  much  attention  to 
him.  The  firing  became  so  hot  and  approached 
so  near  and  the  men  were  streaming  by  so  fast 
that  1  turned  round,  hardly  expecting  to  see 
Gen.  Banks  again. 


After  riding  back  a  little  way  I  thought  I 
would  try  to  rally  some  of  the  fugitives. 
As  soon  as  I  turned  round  my  knees  were 
knocked  black  ana  blue  by  the  men  running 
against  them  and  by  the  knees  of  mounted 
fugitives,  and  I  could  do  nothing.  But  at  length 
I  found  a  string  of  men  tailed  out  behind  the 
trunk  of  a  tree,  one  behind  the  other,  to  es- 
cape the  bullets  which  came,  however,  not 


252 


STORIES   OF   OUR   SOLDIERS. 


only  from  the  rear,  but  from  both  sides.  I  ap- 
pealed to  a  Sergeant  aud  asked  him  if  he  and  I 
could  not  tret  some  men  togeiuer  and  make 
a  sian<l.  He  said  he  UiOOtfhl  be  could  and  ihat 
they  would  hgni  ii  they  had  any  ammunition. 
1  tdi'i  inn)  I  would  irei  him  some  aud  I  rode 
ofl  and  overlook  an  ammunition  wagon. 
Stopped  it  and  got  oat  a  box.  Just  as  1 
was  going  to  distrioute  the  ammunition  an 
ordnance  officer  came  up  ana  asked  uic  wuat  1 
was  doing,  i  told  liim  1  was  trying  to  kjet  some 
ammunuion  to  .irm  a  squa  1  01  men.  lie  said, 
"Have  you  auytnmg  to  do  witn  ammuni- 
tion'? Are  you  an  ordnance  officer?"  i  said 
".No,"  and  he  told  the  ammunition  wagon 
driver  to  ito  on.  1  went  ou,  too.  Proay  soon  a 
Colonel  rode  up  to  me,  louche  t  his  hat  and 
said  "Are  you  on  Gen.  iUnKs's  staff?"  L 
sai'i,  "lam."  "1  have  ueeu  ordered  up  here 
with  my  uri-rade .  can  you  tell  me  wnere  to  put 
in  my  men?"  1  sail,  "lane  a  POSH. on 
Colonel  on  that  rising  grouiii  to  your  leiu" 
lie  advanced  with  his  men  and  was  soon  over- 
powered. 1  hope  I  di.i  ngnt  to  tell  him  to  go 
some  where,  for  there  seemed  to  oe  uobouy  etse 
to  nired  In m.  1  knew  tuere  would  ye  no  stop- 
ping the  rebels  until  the  First  Division  01  the 
Kineteenth  Corps  was  reached,  and  this  was 
nearly  nine  miles  away,  and  any  check  the 
enemy  received  would  give  them  time  to  form, 

1  continued  my  retreat,  after  advising  the 
brigade  commander,  and  soon  joined  Major 
Lieber.  and  we  retreated  together  Just  auout 
darK  we  heard  the  volleys  of  Emory's  First  Di- 
vision. Aiueieentn  Corps,  wnicu  had  received 
the  fugitives  through  its  ranks,  and,  waiting 
until  the  rebels  were  close  to  them,  had  tired 
several  voileys  wnicu  pui  an  end  to  the  con- 
flict, ana  killed  an  i  wounded  very  many 
01  the  reoela,  among  them  a  general  omcer.  Ail 
the  tiring  was  musKoiry,  no  caunou  could  ue 
used,  there  was  no  room  to  go  into 
battery.  During  tne  night  we  fell  uack  to 
Pleasant  Hill  about  ten  miles  distant.  The 
evening  had  been  spent  ->y  the  First  Division 
in  irvmg  to  make  prisoners  in  the  darK  and  in 
this  they  were  quite  successful.  At  length  in 
the  course  of  the  evening  and  night  all  the 
troops  got  on  the  road.  Gen.  Dwuat  with  his 
brigade  ringing  up  the  rear  and  making  his 
prounecv  coiuulete. 

At  Pieasant  riiii  on  our  retreat  we  found  Gen. 
A.  J.  Smith,  with  his  coin.n.tuJ.  Tae  next  day, 
the  9th,  was  spent  in  realms  and  in  gelling  into 
position  to  tigut  the  re..eis  if  they  should  attack 
as.  uid  it  seemed  absolutely  certain  that  they 
would. 

in  ..he  afternoon  they  came  on.  an  1  were  at 
first  somewhat  success  ml,  but  a  regiment  in 
their  rear  and  »  charge  by  Blowers  division 
started  them,  and  all  i.ands  drove  them  from 
the  tieid.  two  or  three  miles  on  their 
Way  b.ioii  to  Sabuie  Cross  Roads.  I 
saw  this  charge  of  Mower's  as  plainly  as  if  I 
were  standing  on  the  hill  on  the  Common  in 
lios  ton  an  i  the  rival  lorces  were  charging  on 
the  parade  ground.  Mower's  men  were 
lying  down:  the  rebels  came  out  of  the 


woods,  formed  in  line  and  charged  bayonets. 
Mower's  men  rose  up,  delivered  their  tire  and 
charged  against  them.  Nearer  ana  nearer  they 
came.  1  sai  i  to  the  omcer  next  to  m -.  "I  am 
told  th  it  bayonet  charge*  never  meet, 
Which  line  is  going  to  turn,  the  gray  or  the 
blue?  If  the  blue  turns  we  are  gone  up." 
Suddenly  the  gray  line  wavered,  turned  and 
ran.  Everybody  cheered  and  advanced.  I  set 
to  work  attending  to  the  wounded,  who  were 
numerous,  because  we  ha  i  the  rebel 
as  well  as  our  own  wounded  to  care 
for.  Late  in  the  evening  an  or  ler  was  brought 
to  me  saying  thai  the  army  was  going  to 
fall  back  to  Grand  Ecore.  1  said,  "  Why 
retire?  We  have  whipped  the  enemy,  taken 
their  artillery,  and  we  hold  the  field  with  the 
wounde 1  of  both  sides,  and  have  driven  the 
reiis  many  miles."  1  was  answered  that  we  re- 
tired because  of  the  scarcity  of  water,  but 
said  1,  "The  wounded  won't  have  any  more 
water  if  you  leave  them.  Let  me  go  to  Grand 
Ecore  and  turn  back  the  ambulances  and  empty 
wagons  we  sent  off  this  morniuvr,  and  we 
can  transport  all  the  wounded."  Again  1  was 
asked  if  it  was  any  of  my  business.  I  said 
"No.'  Gen.  A.  J  Smith  aske  i  to  be  allowed 
to  remain  through  the  next  day  to  bury 
his  dead  and  collect  his  wounded,  but  his 
request  was  not  granted  Why  we  lost 
the  battle  of  Sabine  Cross  Roads,  or  Mansfield, 
as  the  Confederates  call  it.  is  plain  enough. 
The  country  was  not  one  to  maneuvre  in.  Our 
cavalry  had  no  business  in  front.  They  had  to 
ride  along  a  sunken  road  in  a  pine 
forest,  dismount,  drive  the  enemy,  oome 
back  for  iheir  horses,  mount  again  and  soon 
fight  again  as  tooi-solaiers.  ihey  were  practi- 
cal,y  inlautry.  with  inferior  arms,  and  both- 
ered by  their  horses.  Then  the  train  of  wagons 
was  a  source  of  embarrassment,  and  being  in 
the  way  and  occupying  the  only  road, 
it  preveute  i  us  from  bringing  off  any  guns 
when  we  were  repulsed.  In  sucn  a  country 
the  advancing  army  had  ail  the  work  to  do  and 
the  retiring  party  could  choose  iis  own  time, 
place  and  method  of  attack.  Cavalry  were  out 
ol  place,  they  coul  not  be  used.  Then 
again  our  army  was  strung  out  over  thirty  miles 
of  road,  no  two  detachments  being  in  support- 
ing distance  of  each  other.  The  only  way 
would  have  been  to  have  got  all  the  troops 
together  (as  we  did  on  the  way  down  where 
we  were  uniformly  victorious  in  every 
engagement)  and  to  have  advanced  with  infan- 
try sKirmishers  in  trout,  \\  e  should  have  ueen 
irresistible,  but  werhaps  it  was  fated  that  we 
should  not  get  to  Snreveport. 

In  these  two  days  we  lost  1792  killed  and 
wounded  and  1805  missing. 

The  rebels,  according  to  Gen.  Kirby  Smith  s 
report,  lost  some  2000  killed  and  wounded. 

In  officers  kille  1  and  wounded  the  Con- 
federate loss  was  especially  heavy.  Gen. 
Monton  was  killed  at  Sauine  Cross  Roads  and 
Colonels  Beard,  Noble,  Armant,  Tavior,  Buohel 
and  many  others. 

In  prisoners  we  lost  1800;  the  Confederates 
lost  about  9ou 


h  \  /.      %     r/ 

v  I  H  ' » I  il§C  / 


^--" 

TRYING    TO    RALLY    THE    FUGITIVES. 


2o:5 


RED    RIVER    EXPEDITION. 


255 


In  wagons  we  lost  156  loaded  with  torage  and 
food  and  800  mules. 
In  cannon  we  lost  about  15  and  the  rebels  5. 


Our  army  was  not  really  much  hurt  by  ttie.se 
two  battles;  it  was  only  hammered  together, 
amalgamated,  as  it  were,  if  Gen.  Banks 
had  advanced  the  day  after  Pleasant  Hill  be 
could  have  gone  to  Shreveport  or  anywhere 
we^t  of  ii  without  much  molestation.  The 
Confederate  troops  were  used  up  by  their  two 
days'  fighting  and  the  losses  they  had  sus- 
tained. I  do  not  see  wh:»t  would  have  been 
gaine  I  by  occupying  Shreveport,  and  it  would 
have  been  a  difficult  place  to  hold  if  General 
Banks  was  to  be  on  the  o  her  side  of 
the  Mississippi  River,  ready  to  attack  Mobile 
on  the  1st  01  May.  However,  if  General 
Banks's  an  I  General  Steele's  campaigns  lia  I 
both  succeeded.  I  suppose  that  Gen.  Steele  and 
the  navy  could  have  hel  i  Shreveport.  To 
sliow  that  we  could  have  irone  on  after  Pleasant 
Hill.  I  will  reai  Irom  General  Kirby  Smith's 
report  made  at  that  tinn,  also  from  an  article 
01  his  written  in  1888  an  i  published  in  the 
Century  War  Book,  Vol.  iv.  p.  372.  many  years 
later,  and  Irom  an  intercepted  letter  written 
soon  alter  the  battle  by  one  ot  General  Smith's 
staff  officers  to  his  father  in  Richmond.  (Vol. 
xxxiv.,  Part  1,  p.  485.) 


"The  next  morning  (i.  e.  after  the  battle  of 
Sabine  Cross  Road-0  our  whole  army  advanced 
and  found  the  enemy  in  position  at  Pleasant 
HilL  Our  troop-i  attacked  with  vigor,  and 
at  first  with  success,  but  l>y  superiority 
of  numbers  were  finally  repulsed  and 
thrown  into  confusion.  The  Missouri  and  Ar- 
kansas troops,  with  a  brigade  01  Walker's 
division,  were  broken  and  scatters  I.  The 
enemy  recovered  cannon  which  we  had  captured 
an  i  two  of  our  piece-,  were  left  in  his  hau  Is. 
To  my  great  relief  1  found  in  the  morning1 
that  the  enemy  had  fallen  back  during  tne 
nignt.  He  continued  nis  retreat  to  Grand 
Ecore.  where  he  intrenched  himself,  ami  re- 
mained until  the  return  of  his  tieet  and  its 
passage  over  the  bars,  made  especially  difficult 
this  season  by  the  unusual  fall  of  the  river. 

"The  question  mav  be  asked  why  the  enemy 
was  noi  pursued  at  once.  I  answer  because  our 
troops  were  completely  paralyze  i  by  the  n  p  i.se 
at  Pleasant  Hill,  and  the  cavalry,  worn 
out  i>y  the  long  march  from  Texas,  uad 
been  constantly  engaged  for  three  days 
almost  without  food  or  forasre.  Before  wecould 
reorganize  at  Alanslitdd  and  get  into  con  dtion 
to  a  ivance  over  the  55  miles  of  the  wilderness 
which  separated  the  armies,  the  enemy 
was  reinforced  ana  intrenched  at  Grand 
1  core,  I  we  coul  i  not  whip  hitn  at 
Pleasant  Hill  in  a  lair  fuht,  it  would  have 
l>een  mad  ness  to  have  attacked  him  at  Grand 
Ecore  in  his  intrenchments  supported  by  a 
formidable  float  of  gunboats.  No  sustained 
operations  for  dislodging  him  could  be  under- 
taken, because  it  was  imuossnde  to  transport 


supplies  for  the  entire  army  from  Snreve- 
port,  distant  100  miles.  The  enemy  had 
possession  of  the  river  until  he  evacu- 
ated Grand  Ecore.  A  large  steamboat,  which 
had  been  sunk  in  the  narrowest  part  of  the 
channel  for  the  purpose  of  obstructing  the  pas- 
sage upward,  and  this  fleet,  had  to  be  removed 
before  the  river  could  again  tie  used."  (Article 
1888.  Century  War  Book.  voL  iv..  p.  372.) 

"Our  repulse  at  Pleasant  Hill  was  so  complete 
and  our  command  was  so  disorganized  that  had 
Banks  followed  up  his  success  vigorously  he 
would  have  met  with  but  teeble  opposition 
to  his  advance  on  Shreveport.  Poliguac's 
(previously  Mouton's)  Division  of  Louisiana 
Infantry  was  all  that  was  intact  ot  Taylor's 
lorce.  Our  troops  were  completely  paralyzed 
and  disorganized  by  the  repulse  at  Pleasant 
Hill." 

Karrative  of  Lieut.  Edward  Cunningham. 
Aide  de  Camp  and  Chief  ot  Artillery.  After 
giving  an  account  of  t.io  battles  of  Sabine  Cross 
Roads  and  Pleasant  Hill,  and  a  very  Clear 
description  ot  the  campaign  against  Steele.  he 
says: 

"  I  do  not  think  Gen.  Smith's  late  campaign 
admits  a  well-grounded  criticism.  Ah  turns 
upon  a  comparison  of  the  oojects  to  be  gained 
bv  operating  against  Banks  or  Steele  after 
Pleasant  HilL  That  it  was  impossible  for  us  to 
pursue  Banks  imme  lately,  under  four  or  five 
days,  cannot  be  gainsaid.  It  was  imoossiule, 
because  we  did  no  have  transportation  for  sup- 
plies; and  impossible,  because  we  had  been 
beaten,  demoralized,  paralyzed  in  the  tight  of 
the  9th." 

Vol.  xxxiv..  Series  I..  Part  L 

I  think  these  quotations  from  Confederate 
sources  make  it  clear  that  our  army  couid  have 
advanced  to  Shreveport,  and  certainly  a  force 
minht  have  remained  to  bring  off  the  woun  .ed 
and  bury  the  dead,  and  tnere  was  no  need  of 
Buch  precipitation  in  retreat.  Here  was  a  curi- 
ous spectacle:  i  wo  armies  running  away  from 
each  oilier,  both  retreating,  nut  the  victor  must 
BO.  The  next  day,  the  10th  of  April,  our  .sur- 
grous  had  to  march  beyond  the  battlefield 
to  deliver  their  me  ic.il  stores.  We  marched 
all  the  mght  of  the  9th.  leaving  Peas- 
ant Hill  ami  all  the  wounded  be- 
hind us,  without  being  pursued,  most  of 
the  enemy  having  retired  six  nines  neyond  or 
behind  the  baitlotiel  i  of  the  previous  day.  I 
reineimier  tnat,  as  Gen.  Banks  and  staff  well 
Along  the  next  morning  by  the  column  of  in- 
fantry on  the  road  to  Grand  Ecore,  the  soldiers 
sang  in  unison.  On  the  lOih  01  April,  '04,  eta, 
and  tnen  all  in  unison  shouted  "  Napoleon  P. 
Bank*."  It  seemed  at  the  lime  as  if  this  shout 
was  raihcr  in  ridicule  than  i  praise,  and 
rather  sarcastic  than  applauding.  We  re- 
mained at  Gr.md  Ecore  a  loriuignt,  till  April 
2f>th,  an  I  .hen  retired  to  Alexandria.  Our 
losses  were  more  t.ian  made  up  soon  after- 
wards, for  at  Alexandria  we  iound  Grover's 
division  of  the  Nineteenth  Corps,  and  omer 


256 


STORIES   OF    OUK    SOLDIERS. 


troops  from  New  Orleans  and  Texas.  On  April 
SO  we  had  4000  men  more  than  we  had  on 
March  31.  before  we  started  from  Alexandria, 
the  return  for  March  31  present  for  duty  being 
36,847.  and  for  April  30,  after  all  fighting  and 
retreating:  and  losses  in  prisoners,  present  for 
duty,  39,041,  without  counting  the  sailors  or 
marines.  I  went  to  see  General  Mower  in  his 
tent  at  Grand  Ecore,  and  he  actually  sned  tears 
because  he  had  been  compelled  to  retreat  after 
Pleasant  Hill.  He  said  he  was  not  used  to  such 
campaigning;  that  when  he  bad  whipped  the 
enemy  he  had  always  pursued  him,  and  he 
could  not  understand  the  good  of  coming  ui> 
here  and  lighting  and  beating  the  rebels,  and 
then  running  away,  and  much  more  in  the 
same  strain.  He  could  not  be  reconciled  to  our 
retreating:. 

How  fared  it  with  General  Kilby  Smith's 
command,  which  went  up  the  river  on 
transports  to  meet  us  at  Mansfield?  They 
started  from  Grand  Ecore  on  April  7,  14  trans- 
ports, containing  troops  and  stores,  escorted  by 
the  naval  vessels;  7  more  transports  followed 
later.  On  April  10  they  arrived  at  Logsry  Bayou, 
110  miles  from  Grand  Ecore,  and  landed  troops 
to  take  and  hold  the  bridge  at  Bayou  Pierre, 
and  to  hold  the  town  of  Springfield. 
They  had  received  news  of  the  battle 
between  Banks  and  Kirby  Smith,  the  tenor  of 
£hich  was  that  the  Confederates  were  in  full 
retreat,  but,  just  as  the  troops  were  starting  on 
their  reconnaisance  toward  Bayou  Pierre,  an 
order  from  General  Banks  was  received  direct- 
ing the  return  of  the  command  to  Grand  Ecore. 
The  only  losses  of  the  command  were  two 
killed  and  seventeen  wounded,  and  the  iron 
clad  Eastport.  a  powerful  and  valuable  vessel, 
and  the  boats  reached  Grand  Ecore  on  the  15th 
ol  April  On  the  way  they  had  been  attacked 
by  the  rebels  under  General  Green  and  General 
Liddell  with  cannon  and  musketry.  General 
Green  was  killed  by  a  shell,  which  took  off  his 
head,  and  his  command  suffered  considerably. 
We  remained  at  Grand  Ecore  from  April  11  till 
the  21st,  ten  days,  and  then  marched  to  Alex- 
andria, where  we  arrived  on  the  25th. 
(See  Irwin's  History,  Nineteenth  Army  Corps.) 
"Banks's  relations  with  General  Stone  had 
been  strained,  and  Banks  had  determined  on  a 
change,  when  on  April  16  an  order  was  re- 
ceived from  the  War  Office  bearing:  date  of 
March  28,  whereby  Stone  was  relieved  trom 
duty  in  the  Department  of  the  Gulf,  deprived  of 
his  rank  and  ordered  to  Cairo,  111.,  thence  to 
report  by  letter  to  the  Adjutant  General  of  the 
army.  For  this  action  neither  cause  nor  occa- 
sion had  ever  been  made  known.  Banks  pub- 
lished this  order,  and  on  the  following  day 
anade  Dwight  Chief  of  Staff." 

On  the  way  down  one  oi  those  incidents  oc- 
curred which  illustrated  General  Banks's  per- 
£onal  braveryv  and  perhaps  also  his  want  of 
judgment.  We  came  to  the  crossing  ol  Cane 
Kiver,  which  empties  into  the  Red  River  at 
Monett's  Bluff.  The  rebel  General  Bee.  with  a 
large  force  of  infantry  atid  artillery,  held  the 
bluff,  which  commanded  the  river  crossing. 
General  Birge  with  his  brigade  and  Cameron's 


Division  of  the  Thirteenth  Corp*  carried  the  hill 
by  assault  and  cleared  the  way.  In  this  action 
General  Fessenden  of  Maine  was  severely 
wounded  and  afterward  lost  his  leg,  as  did  also 
Gen.  Paine  of  Wisconsin.  Before  Gen.  Birge 
grot  into  action  Gen.  Banks  rode  up  toward 
Monett's  Bluff,  from  which  the  enemy  were 
shelling  the  road.  We  halted  in  the  road  with 
our  escort  headauarter  flags,  orderlies,  etc., 
making  quite  a  large  crowd,  and  the  rebels 
began  practicing  on  us.  At  length  they  got  the 
range,  but  Gen.  Banks  did  not  move  and  the 
rest  of  us  had  to  stay  with  him.  The 
shells  burst  closer  and  closer.  At 
length  one  burst  directly  over  our 
heads  and  the  fragments  fell  upon  and  among 
us.  One  piece  struck  Gen.  Banks  on  his  boot 
and  then  fell  to  the  ground.  "Hand  me  that 
piece  of  iron,  if  you  please."  said  the  General. 
I  made  believe  that  my  horse  was  restive  and 
spurred  along  the  road  toward  the  bluff,  for  it 
seemed  to  me  that  the  nearer  1  got  to  the  ene- 
my's batterv  the  less  likely  I  was  to  be  hit. 

Somewhere  on  the  road  between  Nachitochtes 
and  Alexandria  I  left  the  troops  and  went  on 
hoard  a  transport  loaded  with  wounded,  and 
gave  directions  about  their  cara  This  delayed 
me,  and  when  I  arrived  at  our  headquarters  I 
found  Gen.  Banks  and  the  staff,  together 
with  Generals  \.  J.  Smith  and  Mower,  seated 
at  a  magnificent  banquet.  General  Dwight 
had  sent  his  aid,  Lieutenant  Daniel  Payne 
(who  was  a  classmate  of  mine  at  Harvard 
in  the  class  of  1858),  to  New  Orleans. 
Now  the  New  Orleans  restaurants,  the  French 
ones,  were  as  good  as  those  in  Paris,  and  Paine 
had  sent  up  a  magnificent  dinner,  with  plenty 
of  champagne.  I  found  the  dinner  considerably 
advanced,  but  I  made  up  in  haste  for  what  I 
had  lost  in  time,  and  we  had  a  very  jolly  feast 
I  was  very  fond  of  Gen.  A  J.  Smith,  with  whom 
I  used  to  ride  whenever  I  coul<l.  and  of  Gen. 
Mower,  and  we  all  expressed  an  admiration 
and  affection  for  each  other.  At  length  night 
and  somnolence  put  an  end  to  the  feast. 

One  day  during  our  stay  at  Alexandria  I  was 
called  aboard  a  steamer  filled  with  Confederate 
prisoners  to  prescribe  for  a  sick  man.  The  tirst 
person  1  saw  on  going  on  boar.i  was  CoL  Kl_roe, 
who  had  been  captured  by  Gen.  Mower  at 
Henderson's  Hill,  as  I  have  told  you.  Elgee 
was  just  the  same  as  when  I  had  seen  him  last 
at  Cambridge  in  1857.  He  told  me  that 
his  own  house  had  been  uurned  and  that 
his  wife  was  staying  at  a  house  which  he 
pointed  out  to  me  on  the  river's  bank, 
and  he  asked  me  if  I  would  go  and  see  her 
when  1  went  onshore,  and  tell  her  I  had  seen 
him  and  that  he  was  well,  etc.  Of  course  I  told 
him  I  would.  I  went  on  shore  and  roile  to  the 
house,  found  a  number  of  ladies  dressed  in 
i  > lack  on  the  piazza,  introduced  myself  to  Mrs. 
Eigee  and  gave  my  messages.  The  husband 
and  wife  never  met  again.  Elgee  died  of  typhoid 
fever  in  prison  in  New  Orleans. 

The  sick  and  wounded  gradually   became  so 


RED    RIVER    EXPEDITION. 


257 


numerous  that  I  needed  another  and  a  larger 
steamer  to  put  them  in,  and  as  General  A.  J. 
Smith  bad  all  the  larger  steamers  I  went  to  him, 
armed  with  a  request  irom  General  Dwigiit, 
and  asku<J  him  to  give  me  one,  naming  one  of 
the  best.  He  said,  "  You  uro  back  and  tell  Gen. 
Banks  lie  can't  have  any  steamers.  lam  going 

to  leave  him.     You  will  hear  the  G d a 

whistling  to-morrow  morning  you  ever  heard. 
I  am  going.  I  won't  stay.  Come  and  take  a 
drink.  1  took  my  drink  ana  remained  and 
taUed.aud  finally  got  the  boat  I  wanted. 

On  the  28th  of  April  the  enemy  drove  in  the 
skirmishers  of  the  i'nirteeutu  Corps  and  Gen. 
Mcolernand  fell  back,  abandoning  and  setting 
on  fire  his  camp  and  garrison  equipage,  stores 
an  .  forage.  This  was  rather  a  serious  matter, 
as  we  were  short  of  forage,  but  our  good  genius 
in  the  way  of  fighting,  Geu.  A.  J.  Smith.  took  a 
brigade  of  his  own  troops  without  orders 
(Show's),  put  out  the  fire,  saved  most  of  the 
stores  and  forage,  and  returned  to  the  camp 
without  having  been  molested. 

We  were  detained  in  Alexandria  on  our  re- 
turn from  April  25  till  May  13,  18  days,  by 
building  the  dam  over  the  river,  so  as  to  get 
water  enough  on  the  falls  to  i  ring  the  big 
boats  over.  This  dam  was  built  by  the  soldiers 
of  the  .Nineteenth  Corps,  under  the  command 
and  superintendence  of  Col.  Hailey.  1  hope  you 
have  all  read  about  the  construction  of  the  dam 
below  the  falls  at  Alexan  iria.  I  watched  its 
building  from  the  high  bank  on  the  shore.  1'he 
river  at  this  point  was  768  feet  wide.  The  mills, 
deserted  houses  and  so  on  in  the  neighborhood 
were  stripped  of  their  iron  and  bricks  and 
stones,  and  with  these  coffer-dams  were  filled 
and  sunk.  Tree  dams  were  also  made,  and  coal 
barges  were  filled  with  stone  and  sunk  also. 
(Copy  from  Irwiu.  o.  338). 

The  members  of  the  Maine  regiments,  many 
of  them  backwoodsmen,  felled  trees  and  brought 
them  to  the  river  in  an  incredibly  short  space 
of  time.  Gen.  Banks  was  active  day  and  night 
in  pu>hing  the  work  an  1  hardly  slept.  Almost 
all  the  work  was  done  by  the  troops  and  the 
dam  was  finished  in  a  week,  but  only  four  of  the 
gunboats  were  ready  with  steam  up,  the  Lex- 
ington, the  Osage,  Neosho  and  Fort  Hindman. 
These  went  over, but  suddenly  the  dam  gave  way 
and  the  water  fell.  Bailey,  however,  was  equal 
to  the  emergency,  and  a  second  dam,  with  wing 
dams  above,  was  built  higher  UP  the  river  in 
three  days'  time,  and  soon  a  sufficient  depth  of 
water  was  o  >tained  to  float  the  boats  over  the 
rocks.  As  soon  as  Bailey  reported  that  the 
water  was  deep  enough,  one  of  the  vessels  was 
sent  over  the  falls;  a-;  she  disappeared  and 
dived  head  downward,  and  her  smoke 
stack  reeled  over,  we  felt  that  perhaps 
she  had  struck  on  the  rocks  and  would 
never  rise,  but  when  she  glided  out  of  the 
foam  and  rough  water  into  the  smooth 
stretch  below  "a  shout  that  rent  the  firmament 
from  all  that  crowd  arose."  The  other  vessels 
Waiting  above  the  falls  were  all  brought  over 
In  safety.  While  we  were  at  Alexandria  no  at- 
tempt was  made  to  capture  the  rebel  army,  nor 


to  seriously  attack  it.  though  the  enemy  marched 
i>y  us  and  gave  us  their  flank  and  we  had 
plenty  01  iroops,  39.0OO  men.  Rebel  authorities 
think  we  might  have  done  so.  (War records 
Vol.  XXXIV..  Series  1,  p.  668.  Part  1— Lieut. 
Cunningham  s  account) 


"The  enemy  showed  less  enterprise  than  I 
have  ever  known  them  evince.  Once  or  twice 
while  he  was  at  Alexandria  the  posture  of  our 
force  was  such  that  by  a  short  an  i  compara- 
tively safe  movement  01  10.000  men  he  might 
have  insured  beyond  perau  venture  the  capture 
of  Foligu.ic's  division,  and  must  have  ueen,  in 
the  main,  aware  of  the  position  and  strength  of 
our  force. 

"Along  with  the  hope  of  accomplishing  his 
main  purpose  he  seems  to  have  given  up  his  de- 
sire to  acquit  himself  with  any  credit." 

What  was  Steele  doing  all  this  time  ?  As  we 
hare  said.  Gen.  Steele  left  Little  HOCK  March 
23.  He  readied  Arkadelpnia  on  the  29th.  His 
line  of  march  was  harassed  on  tiie  front,  rear 
and  flank*.  Geu.  1'hayer  irorn  Fort  Smith 
ioiue.i  him,  and  together  they  proceeded  over 
feanul  roads,  through  swamps  and  marshes  to 
Camdeu,  wnicu  they  reached  on  the  loth  of 
April.  All  this  time  Sieele's  foraging  parties 
were  attacke  i,  his  long  line  of  transportation, 
over  100  miles,  to  Little  Rock  freuuentiy  in- 
terrupted, and,  as  ne  expressed  it,  he  was 
"  bush w Hacked  and  attacked,  fro.it,  rear  and 
flank,  y  Price's  cavalry. "  Hi*  spies  and  mes- 
sengers sent  to  Banks  were  iuterceoied,  until, 
on  or  about  the  17th,  one  more  fortunate  than 
the  rest  came  in.  confirming  the  reports  of 
Banks's  retirement  to  Grand  Ecore.  Steee 
founu  Camaeu  lortitied  strongly,  the  works 
having  been  careiully  built  the  year  before  by 
the  Confederates,  ihose  worKs  were  unoccu- 
pied, and  Sieele  took  possession,  lie  could 
have  maintained  himself  there  indefinitely, 
as  he  speaks  in  high  praise  of  the  fortifications, 
but  he  could  not  maintain  liis  long  line  of  com- 
munication with  Little  Rock,  bis  base  of  sup- 
plies. The  country  was  impoverished;  the  ex- 
pedition had  come  to  uaugat;  now  that  Banks 
had  retired,  he  could  not  contend  successfully 
against  Kirby  Smith,  and  Price  reinforced  irom 
Shreveport;  his  foraging  parties  and  supply 
trains  were  being  captured,  and  his  sup- 
plies of  food  and  forage  were  low,  tie 
retired  from  Camden  on  April  23, 
using  his  pontoon  bridge  to  cross 
the  Wasbita  River.  Later  on,  at  Jenkins's  Ferry, 
on  the  Saline  River,  he  laid  his  pontoon  bri  ige 
again  for  the  last  time,  crossed  over  his  cavalry 
and  most  of  his  sick  and  wounded,  and  then 
turned  and  fought  the  pursuing  enemy,  who 
attacked  with  great  desperation.  The  Comed 
erates  were  lefeatel  with  great  slaughter  The 
co  ored  troops  fought  particularly  well,  the 
Second  Kansas  Colored  capturing  two  guns. 
After  pursuing  the  enemy  about  a  mile.  Gen. 
Steele  turned  back  and  cros^e  i  the 
river,  leaving  several  Surgeons  with  the 
wounded  he  could  not  transport,  and  saving 
all  tue  wagons  he  could  haul.  Many  of  U»e 


258 


STORIES    OF    OUR    SOLDIERS. 


animals  were  so  weak  that  they  could  not,  even 
uunar.iessed,  drag  tnem.ielves  through  tiie 
mu.i.  Steeie  now  destroya  I  his  pontoon 
bridge,  wuich  nal  twice  saved  liis  uruiy 
bee. iuse  lie  could  not  transport  it,  having  not 
enough  animals  to  haul  the  artillery  and 
the  rations,  ihe  rebels  bai  been  100  much 
hurt  to  puisue.  The  effect  of  the  action  at 
Juufc-iu->'s  Ferry  on  ihe  Sabiue,  and  mat  at 
Pleasant  Hill  uu.ier  Bauits,  were  inucn  the 
Same  n  iheir  effect  on  the  re  els.  In  bOt,h  the 
enemy  wa.->  wniupedaud  so  much  hurl  as  to  ue 
nuaoie  to  renew  tlie  attaCR.  (Rebellion 
Records.  Series.  Vol.  XXX1V..P.  547.) 

Gen,  Richard  Taylor,  wlio  had  been  very 
mucu  incensed  against  Kiroy  smith,  and  was 
\vn.m-:  most  insuuordiuate  an  i  insulting  let- 
Urs.  says  in  one  of  them,  "  At  Jenkins's  ferry 
you  lost,  mor  ;  heaviiy  m  kille  i  an  •  wounded 
than  tue  enemy.  i'his  appears  .rom  in,;  oth'cial 
report  of  bteeie,  confirmed  by  our  officers  who 
were  present.  You  los.  two  pieces  01  artillery. 
w..icn  ihe  enemy  did  not  carry  off 
because  he  bad  previously  been  deprived 
of  moans  of  transportation  by  Maxey  and 
Fagau.  lie  turner  nis  poiuoon  for  the 
same  reason,  and  because  after  crossing  the 
Sauine  he  had  no  lurtuer  use  lor  it.  Heuiarcned 
to  Little  Rock  after  the  tight  entirely  uuuio- 
le.->ted.  lie  would  unquestioua  dy  nave  gone 
there  had  tiie  ughl  never  occurred.  We  do  not 
to-day  hold  one  loot  more  oi  Arkansas  than  it 
Jenkins's  Ferry  ha  i  never  ueen,  and  we  have  a 
jade. i  army  aim  1000  iess  solaiers.  In  iruiti,  the 
Campaign  (in  Arkansas)  ha  i  oeeu  a  ludicrous 
fanure.  IbeiruitsOi  Maustield  (Sabiuu  Cross 
Roads)  have  been  turned  to  dust  and  asues." 

.Steele  reached  Little  Rock  on  May  3.  tie  had 
accomplished  nothing,  fiad  failed  to  reach 
Shivveport,  ana  baa  been  much  more  punished 
than  ttauks.  His  losses  were  enormous,  par- 
ticularly in  material  of  war— wagons,  636; 
mutes,  2500.  O.i  April  15  there  were  8UO 
wagons  and  12,ooo  puoiic  animals  at  Camden, 
mor,- than  an  average  01  one  animal  10  every 
soidicr,  including  officers  and  non-combatants, 
team.ttcrs,  etc.  it  was  not  unnatural  that 
forage  lor  thi-  great  number  oi  animals 
should  oe  difficult  to  procure.  Waat 
an  enormous  loss  of  material  of  war,  to  say 
nothing  of  men,  was  sustaine  i  in  tbese  two 
camp  .igus  01  Generals  Sieele  and  banks, 
without  any  successes  to  counterbalance  them. 
Jus  i  think.  360O  mules  alone,  ana  Major  Liver- 
more  tola  us  the  other  iiignt  that  Napoleon  had 
only  300  mules  wnen  he  began  tne  Italian 
campaign. 

We  were  directed  to  leave  Alexandria  very 
quietly  and  were  to  be  particularly  careful  to 
set  no  fires  and  to  keep  perfect  silence,  so  as  to 
give  no  notice  to  the  Confederates  that  we  were 
leaving.  Our  nor  es  were  saddled  all  day  long, 
and  at  lengtn,  about  midnight,  on  the  13th  of 
May  we  left  Alexandria,  in  wbat.  as  I  recol- 
lect, was  a  perfect  pandemonium  of  noise,  and 
vita  the  sky  illuminated  all  night  by  the  buru- 


ng  houses  and  burning  cotton  set  on  fire  by  the 
troops. 

As  far  as  our  staff  was  concerned  the  march 
was  a  very  pleasant  one.  Gen.  Dwigut.  wuo 
ha  i  succeeded  Gen.  a. one  as  Cu.ei  of  Staff.  I 
at  i e;v-.t  saw  but  little  ol ;  he  was  very  bu.>y.  aud 
maae  Lieuu  Charles  S.  Sargent  and  tne  otuer 
men  on  tne  Staff  worn  pretty  ..ard  in  <  xamin- 
iug  civilians  wuo  were  arrested,  wrought  to 
headquarter-i  and  pumped  for  inioiuiaaon 
about  ihe  enemy. 

Surttent  tnotuht  it  pretty  liar  1  to  ride  all  day 
and  be  Kept  up  all  ni-fiii  examining  civilians 
arrested  on  the  march.  1  uelieve  the  threat 
Isapoleon  pursued  this  practice:  wheiner  ha 
learned  more  taau  Sargent  did,  1  do  not  know. 

While  we  were  at  Alexandria  the  rebels 
marcued  arouuu  us  and  tooK  possession  of  the 
Red  Kiver  oeiow  u*  at  Davia's  Ferry,  jut.6 
aoove  Fort  Ue  Russy.  Troops  na.i  been  c'linmg 
to  us  in  transport  steamers  Irom  New  Oneaufl 
ana  . rom  me  coast  of  iexas.  the  remainder  of 
the  Ihirieenth  Corps,  with  Gen.  .vicCIeruand, 
their  commander.  Mo>t  of  tne  transports  got 
througn  to  Alexandria  all  rUht,  uut  for  some 
time  communication  with  New  Orleans  was 
cutoff  and  Gen.  John  C.  fallrev  and  Colonel 
Aicxan  .er,  ou.  Aieuical  Director,  coula  not 
return  to  us,  and  1  was  appointed  Acting  Medi- 
cal Director  01  tne  expedition.  The  rebels  look 
possession  ot  the  bank  and  captured  on  the  5th 
ol  May  th>;  steamer^  Emma,  City  iiell  aud 
Warner,  an  1  destroyed  me  Unite  i  States  sun- 
boats  Covm^tou  an  i  Signal.  About  4OO  of  our 
men  were  made  prisoners  from  the  Fiity-sixth 
and  One  iiuuured  and  Twentieth  Onio  l.ifantry. 

Descending  from  Alexandria  the  roa  i  follows 
the  right  bank  of  tne  Red  River,  ihe  day  fol- 
lowin-r  our  departure  we  caun;  in  the  course  oi 
the  morning  to  a  place  where  the  levee  was 
gone,  on  our  side  of  the  river,  and  about  60 
rebel  riflemen  ou  the  other  bank  had  the  range 
of  the  gap.  When  we  came  to  ibis  place  I 
noticed  that  the  teamsters  got  off  their  horses, 
and  hid  behind  tneir  wagons,  crouching 
down.  Everybody  on  toot  stooped  uown  ana 
those  on  horsebacK  ran  their  horses 
swiftly  by,  or  else  dismounted  and  kept 
out  of  sight,  but  Gen.  Banks  went  at  a  walk,  his 
horse  curveting  about,  and  most  of  the  staff 
Kept  behind  him.  Some  of  the  regular  officers, 
however,  galloped  ahead  out  of  tire,  in  irout  of 
me  was  one  ot  our  German  AHs  or  engineers. 
He  rode  a  little  white  horsa  Ail  of  a  sudden 
we  got  a  volley  and  the  German's  white  horse 
dropped  dead,  shot  through  the  neck. 
"My  horse  he  shoot.  Gott  damn,"  said 
the  Lieutenant  When  we  erot  beyond  the 
gap  I  dismounted  to  attend  to  one  of 
the  escort,  who  had  teen  hit.  and  the 
Lieutenant  came  up  to  me  arH  said:  'This 
soldier  vill  not  do  vat  I  tell  him.  What  do 
you  want  him  to  do?"  "I  tell  him  to  get  mv 
saddle  and  bridle  from  my  dead  horsa"  I 
asked  the  man  if  be  had  refused  to  get  the  sad- 
dle and  he  said  he  had.  I  said :  "  Lieutenant,  I 


BED    RIVEE   EXPEDITION. 


259 


«l<inlc  he  will  fret  your  saddle  it  you  will  eo  wttb 
him,  won't  you.  my  man?"  "  Yes.  sir."  "But  I 
Til)  not  £o  yith  him."  I  said  "  I'd  be  d 
if  I  would  if  I  were  the  soldier.  I 
think  it  would  make  this  paper  too  long  to 
teM  of  the  actions  at  Wilson's  Land 
ins.  Marksvule.  Mansun  Yellow  Bayou,  or 
Bayou  <ie  Glaize.  on  the  way  to  Simsport  on  the 
Mississippi,  where  we  arrived  on  the  19th  of 
May,  and  Banks  found  General  Canoy  waiting 
to  relieve  him. 

We  had  been  as  successful  in  brushing  the 
rebels  aside  on  the  way  down  as  we  should 
have  been  on  the  way  up.  and  we  marched  in 
the  same  compact  manner  I  think  we  could 
have  t.'on*  anywhere  in  Texa-<.  I  will  now  read 
a  Couple  of  extraon  in  which  General  Banks 
ha-  violated  his  rule  which  I  read  to  you  At  the 
beginning  of  this  paper  They  seem  to  me 
very  natural  remarks 

'  But  I  feel  it  10  oe  a  solemn  duty  to  say.  in 
this  official  and  formal  manner,  that  Admiral 
Porter's  published  official  statements  relating 
to  the  Red  River  campaign  are  at  variance  with 
the  truth,  of  which  there  are  many  thousand 
living  witnesses,  and  do  foul  injustice  to  the 
officers  and  soldiers  of  the  army  living:  and 
dea  1.  to  whom  the  Navy  Department  owes  ex- 
clusively the  preservation  and  honor  of  its 
fleet."  So  much  for  Porter,  now  for  Franklin. 

"The  results  of  the  position  ol  the  cavalry 
train,  and  the  loose  order  of  march  by  the  lead- 
ing column  of  troops  under  Major  General 
Franklin  on  the  8th  of  April  before  the  battle 
of  Sabiue  Cross  Roads  have  been  stated.  A 
commanding  officer  is,  of  course,  responsible 
for  all  that  occurs  to  his  command,  whatever 
may  nave  been  the  causa  I  do  not  shrink  from 
that  responsibility.  But  while  it  was  both  proper 
and  necessary  for  me  to  give  personal  atten- 
tion to  tne  prompt  advance  of  all  the  troops 
and  fleet  from  Grand  Ecore  on  the  morning  of 


the  7tn.  it  was  supposed  that  the  movement  of 
t  single  column  of  13. OOO  men.  moving  in  ad- 
vance, on  one  road  for  a  distance  of  less  than 
60  miles  in  such  manner  as  to  be  able  to  en- 
counter the  enemy  if  he  offered  resistance, 
might  safely  be  intrusted  ;o  aii  officer  of  the 
reputation  and  experience  cf  Major  General 
Franklin  whose  rank,  except  in  one  instance, 
was  superior  to  that  of  any  orricer  of  the  expedi- 
tion or  of  the  Department  cf  the  Gulf. 


"I  make  no  cpmplaintof  the  navy,  but  in  view 
of  its  prolific  dispatches,  long  since  published, 
on  this  campaign.  1  may  proneriy  repeat  a  few 
facts  alrea  iy  state' I.  L'he  success  of  the  expe- 
dition depended  solely  upon  celerity  of  move- 
ment. 1'ue  navy  delayed  the  advance  of  the 
army  at  Alexandria  16  days  an  I  at  Grand. 
Ecore  three  days.  It  occupied  four  days  in 
moving  from  Grand  Ecore  to  Springfield 
Lan  ling,  a  'listancs  of  104  miles.  upon  what 
the  Dispatches  call  '  a  rising  river 
with  good  water,'  Where  it  arrived 
two  days  after  the  first  battle  an  I  one  day 
aiter  the  decisive  battle  of  the  campaign  at 
Pleasant  Hill  It  detained  the  army  ien  days 
at  Gr  ind  Ecore  and  eighteen  days  at  Alexandria 
on  its  return.  These  are  not  opinions .  tney  are 
events.  The  difficulties  of  navigation,  the  im- 
perfect concentration  of  forces,  ihe  incautious 
march  of  the  8th  of  April  and  the  limited  time 
allotted  to  the  expedition  were  the  causes  of  its 
failure." 


Our  arrival  at  Simsport  and  the  relief  of 
Banks  bv  Pauby  was  the  end  of  the  Red  River 
expedition. 

The  detachment  from  the  Army  of  the  Ten- 
nessee went  to  Vicksburt;  and  the  rest  of  the 
troops  were  dispersed  in  Louisiana.  The  staff 
went  to  Port  Hudson,  and  later  to  New  Orleans 
on  a  boat  called  tue  Universe, 

JOHN  HUMANS. 


A  CONFEDERATE'S  STORY. 


[Major  Lamar  Fontaine  of  Mississippi,  himself  a  Con- 
federate officer,  gives  a  word  picture  of  the  rebel  forces  at 
the  battle  of  Ball's  Bluff,  and  ascribes  part  of  the  vin- 
dictiveness  to  the  act  of  a  Northern  regiment,  claiming 
that  it  Oreo  Into  his  friends  after  their  surrender.  The 
charge  Is  not  believed  by  the  Journal— In  fact,  If  memory 
is  right,  exactly  the  opposite  happened,  the  rebels  break- 
ing faith — bat  the  item  is  published  that  our  boys  in  blue 
may  have  opportunity  to  refute  it,  and  that  their  reply 
may  be  forwarded  through  the  columns  of  the  Journal  to 
the  South,  where,  evidently,  the  story  is  current. 

Major  Lamar  Fontaine  enlisted  in  "  Bob  "  Smith's  com- 
pany March  8,  1861,  and  left  Jackson,  Miss..  April  13  for 
Pensacola,  Fla.  He  was  transferred  to  Company  K, 
Bnrt  Rifles,  Eighteenth  Mississipci  Infantry,  June  20, 
1861.  His  first  wounds  were  received  at  the  first  and 
second  Manassas.  He  wag  transferred  to  Company  I, 
Second  Virginia  Cavalry,  in  July.  1861.  August  9  in  the 
same  year  he  wrote,  "  All  Quiet  on  the  Potomac."  He  re- 
ceived wounds  at  Lovettsville,  Kernstown,  Stransburg, 
Hankinson  Perry  near  Vicksbnrg,  Chickamauga,  Hear 
Creek  Bridge  and  Selma.  The  Major  was  a  scout  for 
Stonewall  Jackson,  J.  E.  B.  Stuart,  R.  E.  Lee,  K.  S. 
Ewell  and  Joe  E.  Johnston. 

During  the  siege  of  Vicksburg  he  carried  40,000  musket 
caps  and  dispatches  from  Johnston  to  Pemberton,  and 
dispatches  from  1'embert  n  to  Johnston,  in  May  and  June 
of  1863.  In  June  of  that  year  he  was  promoted  from 
private  to  be  a  Major  of  cavalry.  He  was  assigned  tor 
duty  In  the  Fourth  C.  S.  Cavalry  Sept.  28,  1863,  and 
placed  in  Forrest's  cavalry,  P.  D.  Rodney's  brigade.  He 
was  wounded  and  captured  in  a  skirmish  on  the  Chicka- 
manga  Dec.  14, 1863.  E.  R.  9.  Canby  refused  him  parole 
at  Meridian  In  the  succeeding  May,  as  did  Col.  Riordan, 
U.  S.  A.,  at  Jackson  in  1866.  He  was  in  27  battles  and 
B7  skirmishes,  receiving  13  terrible  wounds,  and  was 
slightly  wounded  54  times.  The  Major  la  now  a  resident 
of  Shaw.  MUa, 


I  am  having:  an  interesting  war  correspond 
ence  with  Major  Lamar  Fontaine  of  Mississippi* 
one  of  the  most  dramatic  characters  brought  to 
light  by  the  throes  of  the  Civil  War.  This 
Major  Fontaine  acted  as  scout  for  Generals 
Stonewall  Jackson,  J.  E.  B.  Stuart,  R  E.  Lee, 
R,  S.  Ewell  and  Joseph  E.  Johnston:  was  en- 
gaged in  27  battles  and  57  skirmishes,  receiving 
13  severe  wounds  and  being  slightly  wounded 
64  times ;  and  performed  one  of  the  greatest  ex- 
ploits of  the  war  in  carrying  40.000  musket, 
caps  and  dispatches  from  Johnston  to  Pember- 
ton in  May.  1863.  having  startling  adventures 
»nd  hairbreaiith  escapes  in  getting  through  the 
Union  lines,  thereby  enabling  Pemberton  to 
hold  out  longer  against  Grant. 

He  is  a  civil  engineer  by  profession ;  is  of  fine 
literary  talents,  the  author  of  a  popular  war 
song.  He  is  now  an  out-and-out  Union  man, 
and  speaks  in  tender,  very  affectionate  terms  of 
his  former  foemen. 

Major  Fontaine  was  an  active  participant  in 
the  Ball's  Bluff  affair,  and  helped  count  the 
dead.  He  writes  me  the  following  realistic  and 
deeply  interesting  account  of  that  battle,  "all 
of  which  he  saw  and  a  part  of  which  he  was,w 
which  in  some  respects  is  a  very  different  ver- 
sion from  that  given  by  Federal  authorities 
CHARLES  O.  STICKNEY. 

In  the  battle  of  Leesburg,  or  Ball's  Bluff  a* 
you  Federals  term  it  we  killed,  wounded,  cap- 
tured or  drowned  about  four  Federals  to  each 
man  we  had  on  the  field. 


A    CONFEDERATES    STORY. 


261 


That  memorable  21st  day  of  October,  1861, 
we  had  reported  for  duty  that  morning:  but  1700 
men.  for  our  little  brigade  was  seriously  affected 
by  that  camp  epidemic,  the  measles,  and  not 
over  half  of  the  brigade  could  be  moved  on  that 
account,  and  out  of  t>>^  1700  for  duty  600  of 
them,  which  include  he  whole  of  the  Thir- 
teenth Mississippi  aim  Uie  artillery,  did  not  fire 
a  musket  or  gun  al)  day  long,  but  marched  and 
countermarched  in  and  around  Fort  Evans  dur- 
ing the  whole  of  the  fight. 

This  left  us  but  1100  muskets,  and  from  11 
A.  M.  till  8  P  M.  we  kept  up  a  steady  fire  of 
musketry— not  a  single  cannon  shot  was  tired 
alone  our  lines.  We  captured  the  Federal  guns 
at  the  very  beginning. 

We  killed  General  Baker,  and  900  of  his  men 
lay  dead  in  the  field. 

There  were  killed  717  by  jumping  over  a 
bluff;  128  were  captured  and  sent  to  Richmond, 

The  opposite  banK  of  the  river  was  lined 
with  their  wounded,  under  tents,  for  a  lone 
wav.  Ana  we  fished  up  out  of  the  river  2200 
dead  bodies,  and  aided  the  Federals  in  burying 
them  all.  and  I  am  satisfied  that  we  did  not  get 
all  of  the  bodies  out  of  the  river,  as  many 
floated  off. 

Now,  their  loss,  not  counting  a  single  wounded 
man,  was  4545,  Do  any  of  the  historians  say 
anything  of  this? 

They  merely  say:  "CoL  Stone  crossed  the 
Potomac  and  made  a  reconnoissance  near  Lees- 
burg  with  a  small  body  of  Federals,  but  was 
met  by  an  overwhelming  body  of  Confederates 
under  Gen.  Evans,  and  was  driven  uack  with 
great  slaughter." 

Does  this  come  any  where  near  the  truth?  It 
only  leaves  the  mind  of  the  youthful  reader 
with  the  impression  that  the  Confe  crates  were 
there  with  a  much  greater  force  than  the  Fed- 
erals, and  hence  CoL  Stone  had  to  retreat,  and 
in  doing  so  the  Confederates  fell  upon  them  in 
great  numbers  and  slaughtered  them ;  while  the 
plain  truth  is:  the  Federals,  some  10,000  in  all. 
were  already  in  positions  on  our  side  of 
the  river,  when  we  discovered  them,  whicn  was 
late  in  the  day.  When  we  attacked  them  they 
had  ample  men  to  have  laid  down  their  arms 
and  tied  us.  hanu  and  foot,  i>ut  they  were  afraid 
to  try  it,  and  the  treachery  of  one  of  their  regi- 
ments caused  us  to  lose  more  of  our  men  than 
we  otherwise  would  have  dona  Among  those 
whose  death  was  caused  by  their  treachery 
Was  a  son  of  Gov.  John  J.  Pettus  of  Mississippi. 
and  also  the  Colonel  of  the  Eighteenth  Missis- 
sippi. E.  R.  Burt 

The  circumstances  were  these  : 

We  came  upon  them  suddenly,  and,  taken  by 
surprise,  they  hoisted  a  white  flag  at  our  de- 
mand to  surrender,  and  reversed  their  arms 
and  surrendered.  At  this  moment  another  regi- 
ment appeared  on  our  right  front  and  poured  a 
deadly  volley  into  us.  We  obliqued  our  guns 
and  returned  their  fire.  As  soon  as  we 
did  so.  and  while  the  men  were  loading,  the 
surrendered  regiment,  within  a  lew  feet  ol  us, 
raised  their  guns  and  gave  us  a  deadly  volley. 
We  charged  at  once,  without  orders,  and  with 
bayonets  and  clubbed  guns  we  gutted  and 
brained  the  most  of  them,  for  their  treachery 


and  cowardly  act  almost  made  demons  of  us  for 
the  time  being. 

The  first  regiment  that  had  fired  on  us  re- 
treated to  their  main  line  and  took  position  on 
the  slope  of  the  hill,  with  a  thicket  of  laurel  in 
their  front. 

Our  skirmish  line  advanced  to  the  foot  of  this 
hill  and  took  position  in  a  small  drain.  I  was 
in  the  drain  and  our  line  of  battle  was  some  6O- 
yards  in  our  rear,  in  a  small  skirt  of  timber  on 
the  brow  of  the  hill.  The  first  line  of  the  Fed- 
erals was  about  60  yards  in  front  of  our  skirmish 
Una 

About  12  o'clock  M.  the  firing  began,  and  for 
eight  hours  it  was  steady,  neither  party  giving 
back. 

Our  skirmish  line  held  its  position  in  the 
drain,  as  it  was  below  or  under  the  line  of  tire, 
and  in  no  danger  from  our  own  men.  After  a 
few  volleys  had  passed  the  skirmish  line — find- 
ing they  were  in  no  danger  from  friends- 
opened  a  steady  and  deadly  fira 

The  laurel  thicket  disappears,  cut  down  and 
blown  away  by  the  hurricane  of  bullets  that 
swept  the  field.  I  fired  some  300  rounds  that 
day,  and,  after  the  first  two  or  three  shots.  I 
cooled  down  and  IOOR  rest  and  tire  !  coolly  an  1 
deliberately  at  the  uckle  of  a  man  in  front  of 
me,  and  I  could  hear  the  bullets  of  our  men  as 
they  at  each  volley  crawled  among  the  olue- 
coats,  ten  lines  deep  in  our  front,  with  a  dull, 
heavy  thud. 

I  often  thought  of  my  friend  Moore,  so  ruth- 
lessly shot  on  the  picket  line  a  short  time  be- 
fore in  violation  of  the  contract  between  the 
Confederate  and  Fe  leral  troops,  and  likewise  of 
his  wife  and  little  ones,  as  my  eye  glanced 
along  the  barrel  of  my  rifle,  and  my  arm  would 
be  more  firm  and  steady. 

Our  men  on  the  hill  could  look  back  and  see 
the  ladies  of  Leesburg  crowding  the  housetops 
to  waich  the  progress  of  the  tight,  and  some 
had  wives  and  sweethearts  there,  and  tney 
could  see  them  waving  handkerchiefs  and  flags 
to  encourage  them. 

And  the  sight  nerved  their  army  and  made 
them  determined  to  do  or  die. 

About  four  or  five  o'clock  the  Federal  lines 
were  pushed  forward  a  few  yards,  and  our  skir- 
mish line  lost  two  or  three  men. 

As  soon  as  it  was  dark  the  flash  from  the  Fed- 
eral muskets  would  almost  throw  their  sparks 
upon  us. 

At  about  8  o'clock  I  heard  the  voice  of  our 
commander  ring  out  loud  and  clear  in  these 
words : 

"  Attention  all  I  Drive  them  into  the  Potomac 
or  into  h 1 1  D n  them,  charge  them  1 !  I" 

Our  men  gave  a  yell.  1  sprang  as  if  touched 
by  an  electric  shock  and  darted  forward  and 
sighted  out  a  big  lager  beer  bloated  Dutchman, 
and  though  I  wa»  as  fleet-footed  as  most  men, 
he  outran  me  and  plunged  headlong  over  a 
bluff  some  50  feet  high,  and,  with  many  others, 
lit  upon  the  rocks  below,  a  quivering  mass. 
Many  of  our  men  came  very  near  going  over. 
too.  in  the  darkness. 

A  large  canal  boat  was  leaving  the  shore, 
loaded  with  fugitives.  We  poured  a  volley  into 
one  end  of  it,  and  the  human  freight  rolled 


262 


STORIES   OF   OUR   SOLDIERS. 


from  it  like  turtles  from  a  log.  It  plunged  for- 
ward, went  under,  and  we  saw  it  no  more. 

The  river  was  covered  with  a  mass  of  strug- 
gling beings  trying  to  reach  the  opposite  shore, 
and  we  k-i>t  up  a  steady  tire  upon  them  as  long 
as  the  faintest  ripple  could  be  seen- 

A  deep  silence  then  rested  upon  the  field,  and 
it  was  "all  quiet  along  the  Potomac."  Not  a 
groan  was  heard.  I  sank  upon  ihe  n'eld  among 
my  comrades,  exhausted,  to  sleep,  and  did  not 
wake  till  the  sun  was  high  in  the  heavens  the 
next  day,  when  I  awoke  and  gazed  around  me. 

home  of  my  comrades  were  standing  around, 
and  they  looked  dazed.  Thrir  faces  were 
swollen  and  ulack  wi'.h  burnt  powder,  an  I  their 
hair  and  whiskers  scorched  and  singed  from  the 


flashes  of  their  muskets.    My  limbs  were  so  stiff 
and  sore  that  I  could  hardly  mqv<\ 

We  soon  learned  that  all  tho  live  Federals  on 
our  side  of  the  river  were  prisoners. 

But  few,  il  any,  of  all  ihose  who  attempted  to 
swim  the  river  that  memorable  night  to  escape 
our  fire  ever  did  so. 

I  aided  in  ourying  their  dead  for  several 
davs,  and  we  of  the  burying  oarty  kept  a  strict 
account  of  all  tho  bodies. 

This  is  a  truthful   account   of    the    battle    of 
Leesburg,  trom  my  standpoint  as  a  soldier,  and 
told  just  as  1  saw  it.  and  is  a  copy  from  my  diary 
written  at  the  time,  and  1  can  vouch  for  it. 
T.AMAR  FONTAINE, 
Late  Major  Fourth  Confederate  States  Cavalry. 

Shaw.  Miss. 


MAJOR    LAMAR    FONTAINE. 


ERRATUM.  263 


ERRATUM. 

On  page  163,  in  list  of  organizations  of  General  Dan  Butterfield's 
oth  Corps,  First  Brigade,  First  Division,  for  "  Twentieth  Massa- 
chusetts," read  "Twenty-second  Massachusetts  Regiment."  The 
20th  was  not  in  the  5th  Corps. 


THE  JOURNAL'S  WAR  ARTICLES. 


The  following  are  a  few  from  the  scores  of 
unsought  testimonials  to  the  Journal  in  praise 
of  its  war  series  and  of  voluntary  descriptions 
ot  the  interest  the  series  arouses: 

THE    LOYAL    LEGION    DISCUSSES    OUR 

ARTICLES. 

Yon  have  no  idea  what  an  amount  of  inter- 
est among  old  soldiers  the  Journal  war  papers 
are  creating.  Tour  paper  is  presenting  chap- 
ters of  unwritten  history.  It  is  reaching  men 
•who  have  never  spoken  before,  and  thus  ob- 
taining much  that  is  entirely  new.  and  there- 
fore of  the  deepest  interest,  especially  among 
old  veterans.  We  were  discussing  the  matter 
np  at  the  Loyal  Legion  the  other  night  and  the 
Journal  reminiscences  were  highly  praised. 
fou've  got  the  boys  to  talking,  and  you  will 
find  plenty  of  matter. 

JOHN  Q.  B.  ADAMS. 

Formerly  Captain  in  the  Nineteenth  Massa- 
chusetts and  now  Sergeant-at-Arms  of  the 
-Massachusetts  Legislature, 

"A  BIG  HIT." 

The  Journal  has  made  a  big  hit  by  its  war  ar- 
ticles. They  are  very  interesting  and  the  young 
as  well  as  the  ol  J  can  profit  greatly  by  reading 
them.  The  Journal  has  made  solendid  progress 
during  the  past  year,  both  in  circulation  and  in 
business.  It  is  a  fine  newspaper,  too,  and  every 
department  is  strong. — [Banker  Hill  Times, 
Cnarlestown. 

"NEW  FRIENDS  EVERY  DAY." 
The  Boston  Journal's  war  sketches  are  among 
the  most  interesting  contributions  to  the  news- 
paper pre  <s  at  the  present  time.    The  Journal, 
since  new  blood  was  infused  into  its  manage- 
ment, is  making  new  friends  every  day.    It  is 
one  of  the  best  of  New  England's  few  great  pa- 
pers.— [Daily  Evening  Post,  Portsmouth.  N.  H. 

"THE  VETERANS^ARE  INTERESTED." 
The  Boston  Journal  is  always  popular  and  in- 
teresting, but  of  late  has  been  running  a  series 
of  war  sketches  that  are  of  extreme  interest  to 
every  one,  especially  the  veteran*.    Inquiry  at 


the  news  stands  shows  the  Journal  is  rapidly  in- 
creasing its  sales.— [Beverly  Times. 

FROM  A  REGIMENT'S  HISTORIAN. 

W.  H.  Osborne,  the  well-known  Pension  Agent 
of  Boston  and  the  historian  of  tho  Twenty- ninth 
Massachusetts,  writes  the  Journal: 

"  I  have  read  the  war  articles  which  have  thus 
far  appeared  in  the  Journal  with  keen  interest, 
and  think  they  must  prove  a  source  of  great 
pleasure  to  many  of  your  readers.'' 

PRAISE  FROM  THE  THIRTEENTH. 

An  old  veteran  of  the  Thirteenth  Regiment 
•writes  the  Journal : 

"  At  our  regimental  reunion  last  night  it  nat- 
tirally  formed  the  staple  of  discussion,  and  it 
would  have  gratified  you  if  you  coul  1  have 
heard  the  encomiums  which  the  Journal  re- 
ceived for  its  enterprise  in  starting  the  series  of 
'War  Articles.' and  for  the  grand  chance  it  is 
affording  the  veterans  to  speak  for  themselves 
and  show  how  the  war  was  really  fought  and  its 
battles  lost  and  won." 

PRAISE  FROM  COL.  KING. 

The  Journal's  series  of  war   articles  attract 

much  attention  deservedly.    All  New  England 

ought  to  read  them.    I  have  taken  the  daily 

almost  26  years,  and  it  is  now  in  its  best  estate. 

DANA  H.  KINO, 

Late  Lieutenant  Colonel  Eighth    New  Hamp- 
shire Volunteert. 

"MADE  A  GREAT  HIT." 
The  war  articles  by  "  Carleton,"  ths  famous 
war  correspondent,  and  by  distinguished  Massa- 
chusetts and  New  England  soldiers,  which  the 
Journal  is  printing  daily,  have  made  a  great  hit. 
—[Boston  Saturday  Evening  Gazette. 

HOW  THE  JOURNAL  INTERESTS. 

I  have  been  a  constant  reader  of  the  Journal 
for  many  years.  It  is  a  paper  that  I  can  take 
into  my  family  and  let  my  children  read.  We 
are  much  interested  in  the  war  stories  by  Carle- 
ton  and  others.  My  boys  cut  them  out  for  their 
scrap  book.  CHABLIS  WBLI& 

Waterbury,  Vt 


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